300-year-old wooden chest reveals hidden guest; snake rescued from antique trunk in Bhubaneswar outskirts

An unexpected discovery inside a centuries-old family heirloom startled residents of Kalarahanga village, located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. A live snake was found inside a  300-year-old wooden chest, preserved over seven generations in the home of local resident Parikshit Pathi on Thursday.

According to Parikshit’s family, they noticed the presence of the snake yesterday and immediately shut the chest without disturbing it. Concerned for safety, they contacted the Snake Helpline. Snake rescuer Purnachandra Das arrived at the scene and successfully retrieved a 3-foot-long non-venomous snake.

After its safe rescue, the non-venomous snake was released into a suitable natural habitat far from human settlements, ensuring both the reptile’s safety and that of the local community.

Snakes Guarding Chest?

Parikshit explained that the chest had been passed down for generations and is likely around three centuries old. Although old tales and folklore suggest that snakes guard treasure-laden chests, the box contained no valuables—only history and mystery.

Subhendu Mallik, General Secretary of the Snake Helpline, stated, “There’s a long-standing belief that snakes guard chests filled with gold or silver. While such myths exist, in this case, the chest contained other articles. Scientifically speaking, it’s likely that a rat or other small animal had previously made a hole in the wooden trunk, creating a passage through which the snake entered.”

Snake Helpline Team Was Also Present During Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar Opening

Interestingly, the incident brings to mind the popular lore surrounding the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of the Jagannath Temple in Puri, which is also associated with tales of snakes. Mallik noted that due to such beliefs, the Snake Helpline team had also been present outside the temple during recent inspections, although there was no need to enter the treasury.