Celebrated in the month of August, in honour of Goddess Manasa, the festival of Jhapan is observed mainly in the western parts of West Bengal. The occasion is of great significance for snake charmers for whom it is a day to display their snakes. Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, any form of trapping, snaring, capturing of snakes, and using them for display and entertainment is a criminal offence. Yet, to this day, quite a number of snakes die every year due to such malpractices.
