Reuters reports that dozens of children have fainted, apparently because of mass hysteria, after school authorities in Nepal killed a snake, considered as sacred by many Hindus. Laxmi Secondary School in Lekhnath town in Kaski district, west of the capital city Kathmandu Since Tuesday, at least 67 Laxmi Secondary School students, aged between 9 and 16, have had fainting fits - where they suddenly scream, cry and faint. Some recover after a couple of hours while others have not yet fully recovered. Some of the afflicted students said they had fainted after seeing a huge snake that was poised to bite them. The school was closed and there are moves to have shamans exorcise the slain snake's spirit before the school reopens Sunday. Doctors told school officials it was a case of hysteria caused by fear of divine retribution for the snake's death. Hindus regard snakes as sacred and Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction, is shown wearing a serpent as a garland.
Cases of hysteria are not uncommon in Nepal according to the Hindustan Times. According to their report, the hysteria can be linked to Maoist insurgency, communist rebels, forced migrations and other pressures faced by Nepalese youngsters.
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