A nearly 200-year-old tradition of 'Savnahi Puja' is still observed with full faith in Kataya village of Bagaha-2 block. This Tharu tribal-majority village recently held the Savnahi Puja on Thursday, believing it protects the village from epidemics and ensures peace, prosperity, and well-being.

The puja commenced in the morning with women worshipping the deity. Subsequently, groups of 20 women were formed near the village's Brahmsthan. These groups were then dispatched to seven different villages, including Amwa, Katarwa, Laukaraiya, Mohna, Sehra, Harnatanr, and Chatraul, to collect alms. The women go door-to-door, collecting rice as alms. After the alms collection, all the women gathered at the Durga Temple complex in Harnatanr, where the collected rice was amassed. The money obtained from selling this rice is used to purchase puja materials and sweets.

Pushpa Devi, Vimla Devi, and other women stated that before embarking on the alms collection, the deity is worshipped. They firmly believe that this tradition maintains the goddess's blessings upon the village, averting diseases and crises. In the late evening, elder men of the village perform the puja according to rituals. The event, held in the month of Sawan, is thus called 'Savnahi Puja'.

According to villagers, about 200 years ago, Kataya village was plagued by epidemics like smallpox, cholera, and high fever. It is believed that at that time, Behri Garhi Mai appeared in a dream, instructing them to perform the puja by collecting alms from seven villages. Since then, the villagers began this puja, and the tradition has been passed down through generations. Villagers affirm that despite changing times, this faith-based tradition will continue.