Nagula Chavithi is an auspicious day dedicated to Nagas (Snakes) in Andhra Pradesh and in parts of Karnataka. In 2011, the date of Nagula Chavithi is October 30, Nagapanchami is October 31 and Nagashashti is November 1. Naagula Chavithi is celebrated on the fourth day after Deepavali and in many places it is a three day festival – Nagula Chavithi is followed by Nagapanchami and Nagashashti on the subsequent days. Nagaraja (Cobra) is worshipped on the day at Nagendra Swamy temples (Naga or Nagaraja Temples
It must be noted here that the famous Naga Panchami festival observed in Shravan Month (July – August) is of great significance in South India . Nagula Chavithi is also dedicated to serpents but is observed in Kartik Month (October – November) after Diwali. Naga Panchami is celebrated in most places in South India but Nagula Chavithi is confined to the Telugu community.
Majority of the people do the pujas and make the offerings at the Nagaraja temples. The worship of snakes is part of nature worship and it is meant to give the message that each aspect of Nature is crucial for the survival of the other. Imbalance in Nature will lead to total destruction of all living beings. But sadly, for many people the main event on Nagula Chavithi day is offering of milk and eggs to the snakes. Some people also decorate snake pits, known as Valmeekam or Puttu, and offer milk and eggs. Snake charmers also bring snakes to villages and towns and people make offerings to them.
Forcefully feeding snakes, pouring milk into snake pits and bursting crackers should be discouraged. This only leads to the death of snakes. Snakes don’t drink milk but the practice has been encouraged by popular beliefs.
Snake worship is a symbolic way of saying to people to respect and worship Nature because the survival of human beings depends on the survival of others species in Nature.
7 comments:
Good you mentioned about the bad practice of feeding snakes.
Hurting snakes is not the way of worship. I feel people in Kerala does Snake worship well...they have this protected small forest and they don't give milk and eggs to live snakes.
Thank you for info re festivals and especially for your protective info on how not to hurt snakes
Would you please post the location of protected small forest location in Kerala. Thanks for your time in advance.
good you have given lots of information, but not given details why this festival cameinto practice if it is also available you willl praised as vaishampayana of modern days. -- kiran
i would like to be a member of the snake worship foundation. my email address is: maggie702@webmail.co.za
Please keep me updated with the festival.
in kerala there is two famous temples for snake named manarasala in haripad at alapuzha dist and the other is panummekattu in thrissur dist the most famous temples and those couple who donot have children from years they come and do an urali kamarthal the belief .and having alliya pooja all powerful and in manarasala there is manarasala amma is like goodess to the people she is a brahmin and people go and take blessings and say their problems and lot of beliefs
November 31st...???We have only 30 days in November....Please don't give wrong information.
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