atulaThe day of the snakes – Nagpanchami
August 6th 2008 16:17
a women offering prayers to the snake
In the Indian culture most of the celebrations are intertwined with nature – the plants, animals, weather and of course snakes. That is how the fifth day of the Hindu month shravan, which roughly falls in July August every year is celebrated as nagpanchami which means fifth day of the Cobra – the most poisonous snake found in India.
Actually this is monsoon time in India and invariably the serpents come out of their water-logged holes. Therefore this practice of praying to the snakes so that they may not harm humans in any way is done from time immemorial. The fascination for these reptiles is such that some Hindu Gods are always shown with snakes.
Lord Shiva with a snake around his neck
Whatever be the reason, on the auspicious occasion of Nagpanchami all across India, people celebrate the day of the snake in their very own way.
In Bengal and parts of Assam and Orissa the blessings of Mansa, the queen of serpents are sought by offering her all the religious adoration. Protection from the harmful influence of snakes is sought through the worship of Mansa who rules supreme over the entire clan of serpents.
In Punjab Nag-Panchami is known by the name of "Guga-Navami". A huge snake is shaped from dough, which is kneaded from the contribution of flour and butter from every household. The dough-snake is then placed on a winnowing basket and taken round the village in a colourful procession in which women and children sing and dance and onlookers shower flowers. When the procession reaches the main square of the village all the religious rites are performed to invoke the blessings of the snake god and then the dough snake is ceremoniously buried.
In Maharashtra, Hindu women take an early bath wear sarees, ornaments and get ready for the "puja" of Nag-Devata.
a nsake charmer with his snake on a door step
In Hindu homes frying any thing on this day is forbidden by tradition.
The traditions keep loosing their charm in modern times as many do think all this a waste of time, but considering this. In some way this occasion is helping people accept the snake as a part of this living world, in spite of its venom. The prayers are towards harmony and peace and as snakes are asked not to harm them, humans too are not harming or killing the snakes.
So when we all know the plight of the living world in the near future with global warming, climate change, pollution and extinction of humans too being not a far off idea, celebrating a day of the snakes seems a far better way to accept the presence and significance of all living creatures in this world than thinking ourselves as the king of the world all the time by destroying what’s natural and killing something as unique as the snake just out of fear or loathing.
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