MUMBAI (Maharashtra), Aug 13- A local court in Western Indian state of Maharashtra has advised authorities to ensure the protection of snakes during the Nag Panchami festival, a ritual in which snakes are worshipped.
Live snakes are traditionally worshipped during the Nag Panchami festival celebrated nationwide on Sunday, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
However, complaints have emerged that some people have captured snakes from the forest days ahead of the festival and brought them to human settlements for worship.
Following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed before the Bombay High Court, the court recently asked the state government to ensure that snakes were not harmed or injured during the Nag Panchami festival.
The PIL claimed that snakes were usually captured from forests and worshipped in villages and cities days before the festival.
Devotees often offered milk to the snakes or gave money to snake charmers to feed them.
“After capturing the snakes, poison is removed from them and they are kept hungry for a few days so that they would drink milk offered to them on Nag Panchami day,” the PIL said.
The court also ordered a ban on snake procession imposed in 2004 be continued.
However, the court said the festival can be celebrated without causing harm to snakes.
The gram panchayat (local government) of Battis Shirala village in Sangli, where the Nag Panchami festival is celebrated with religious fervour, said utmost care would be given to snakes during the festival.
The snakes will be released at the same place where they were captured at the end of the festival, officials said.
– BERNAMA
