Jatinga- Spooky Place In Assam Where Birds Go And Commit Suicide
What makes Jatinga, Assam creepy? Every year during the monsoons, numerous birds of various species are believed to "commit suicide" in Jatinga, Assam. This strange phenomenon has led to many deeming this village as one of the creepiest places on earth.
Bird Suicide – Myth or Truth? Although Jatinga is located around 330 km south of the state capital, Guwahati, it only rose to fame because of this enigma. Locals claimed, (and some still do) that just after the culmination of the monsoons, hordes of birds would fly directly into the village walls to commit suicide.
But How? In this village, birds fly fast and hit a building or tree, killing them. The strangest thing is that birds do this from 7 pm to 10 pm, while in normal weather these birds tend to go out during the day and return to the nest at night.
Where Science Still Fails It is easier for one to place belief in the more logical explanation, but the fact that still remains unexplained is that birds only get attracted to the lights between August and October and that too in very specific weather conditions. This is where even the best naturalists have failed.
Something to Do with Evil Spirits? For many years, the local villagers used to believe that evil spirits are behind this cruel happening. According to the locals, the birds look somewhat dazed, disoriented and end up crashing into trees, lights and buildings.
Are there any other reason? Nearly 40 species of local and migratory birds are involved in this race of suicide. Jatinga remains isolated from the outside world for nine months due to natural reasons. Not only this, entry into the village at night is prohibited. Bird experts believe that magnetic force is the cause of this mysterious phenomenon.
Which are the birds? Many migratory birds in Assam including tiger bittern, little egret, black bittern, pond heron, Indian pitta and kingfishers are affected by the mysterious phenomenon at Jatinga. Species of birds including black drone, hill partridge, green pigeon, emerald dove, and necklaced laughing thrush amongst others used to come to this place and mysteriously die by suicide in large numbers.
When did it all started? The suicide of birds has been going on since 1910, but the outside world came to know about this in 1957. In the year 1957, ornithologist E.P. Gee, a British tea planter mentioned about the same in his book 'Wild Life of India' in 1957.
Villagers of Jatinga also get the opportunity to trap the birds and consume them for meals, as the arrival of birds is considered a “gift of Gods”.