UP man eats grass and straw like animals, villagers claim he was 'possessed'

A 70-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh's Rudlapur village became the focus of a Nag Panchami ritual as villagers watched him eat grass and straw. The recurring event has drawn crowds for decades amid claims of possession and questions over its cause.UP man eats grass and straw like animals, villagers claim he was 'possessed'A 70-year-old man from a village in Uttar Pradesh became the centre of an unusual Nag Panchami ritual, with crowds gathering to watch him behave like an animal and eat grass, straw and other fodder.Buddhiram, a resident of Rudlapur village, was seen eating food meant for animals during the ritual, while villagers claimed that he had become “possessed” by Mahishasura.Some locals claimed that the unusual ritual had been taking place since 1975 and occurred once every three years on Nag Panchami. Villagers believed Buddhiram underwent the transformation during the occasion and began behaving differently from his usual self.The ritual began at the Samay Mata Temple, where prayers were held before Buddhiram was said to start eating grass and straw kept for cattle. He was also seen drinking water from an animal trough during the episode. As word spread, people from neighbouring villages gathered around to watch. Some spectators went a step further and personally fed Buddhiram, offering him bananas, grass, straw and laddus as he continued with the ritual.Watch the video here: The unusual belief surrounding the event has also contributed to its popularity. Villagers believe that people who make wishes at the spot will have them fulfilled, leading more people to gather whenever the ritual takes place.The incident has therefore left room for very different interpretations, with some viewing it as an expression of long-standing faith and tradition, while others have questioned whether there could be a medical or psychological explanation for the elderly man's behaviour.- EndsPublished By: Yashna TalwarPublished On: Aug 19, 2026 20:25 IST