Thousands of Hindu devotees gather to offer prayers at a temple during Teja Dashami festival celebrations in Beawar city of Rajasthan state in India on Friday, September 13, 2024. They offer colorful religious flags & garland to folk deity Teja and dance on dhol beats.

Veer Teja is considered one of the major eleven incarnations of Lord Shiva and worshipped as a deity in rural Rajasthan. He was born around 1074 in Khadnal village of Rajasthan and died in 1103.

Legend has it that Teja died because of snake bite. He allowed a snake to bite his tongue, that being only unwounded area of his body. In return, snake promised that no person or animal would die from a snakebite if they sought blessings of Teja.