New Delhi, August 14: Nag Panchami festival is being observed across the country on Saturday with full ferver and enthusiasm. The festival falls on fifth moonlite day of holy Shravan month of Hindu calendar.
On this occasion, devotees worship snakes to ward off evil sprits. In the some parts of India, people offer milk to snakes and visit temple to offer prayers.
According to the Hindu Mythology, the day is celebrated because Lord Krishna had killed Kalia Naga on this day.
On the Nag Panchami, married women used to visit their mother place to celebrate the festival.
As per the tradition, young women in the villages enjoy swinging on the occasion.
In Purans, it was stated that Nagas were ruler of the Patal Loka and there were nine famous Naga rulers. They are as following: Ananta, Vāsuki, Shesha, Padmanābha, Kambala, Shankhapāla, Dhārtarāshtra, Takshaka, and Kāliya. Kaliya was believed to be evil Naga killed by lord Krishna.
However, the tradition of Nag Panchami celebration has turned into atrocities on reptile species these days. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged citizens to avoid snake shows on Nag Panchami and report to the authorities if they found any snake charmer involved into the business.
Before the Nag Panchami celebrations, snake charmers capture snake and yanked out their teeth for the show. The snakes are kept in a suffocating box and they are also starved for several days.
It is real embarrassment for the devotees, who worship snakes as a Nag Devta, face real atrocities from snake charmers.
—Agencies