Page 1 - Jan-Mar 2019

INTACH

The heriTage Club NewsleTTer

JANUARY - MARCH 2019 VOL. 16 No. 1

India
Land of the Naga The Snake Saga
Read
Its Snake Saga
Revered, edified and feared, snakes down history have been
Dear Green Friends, an icon of worship. Snakes are part of our culture; they are
Snakes hold immense worshipped as an eternal creator and strength. Snakes
importance when it have hissed and slithered into the very being of
comes to our eco-
system and help to keep almost every ancient culture. In ancient India snakes
the ecological balance were considered sacred and associated with Gods
intact. This is why they and Goddesses.
hold an important place in worship as well!
There are diverse species of snakes that Snakes have no legs, no eyelids, no diaphragm, no
are found in India, which is reflected in our bladder, no eardrums and only one lung. Snakes cannot
art and culture. They also hold symbolic run, jump, roar, howl or even chew but they can swim, climb
value. While the King Cobra is the most
prominent, there are also many regional and strike with amazing speed. What is it that makes them a
beliefs and ideas that people follow and symbol of power? Snakes can live in a wide range of habitats.
believe in. In India, we are in constant They can live on trees or in
contact with snakes as worshippers,
charmers, capturers etc. Even the Western water, on land or in burrows.
image of India involves a snake charmer! It Snakes are predators as well as SSSNAKES...
is thus crucial to have enough knowledge
about snakes so that our interaction with prey; they play a vital role in the Slithering they go
them is more intelligent and does not food chain. when it rains,
threaten their existence. Living in forests and plains,
Let’s protect this beautiful creature! Let’s turn the pages and learn With poison running in
more about our Snake Saga! their veins.
harman Preet, Vi genius, swami
Vivekanand Public school, Jagadhri; In different sizes they appear,
Kamakshi Johar, Vi C, summer Fields school, With a deadly tongue
Kailash Colony, New Delhi; aaron abraham biju,
CONTENTS bhavan’s adarsha Vidyalaya, Kakkanad, Kochi and no ear,
A reptile we truly fear.
The Snake Saga 1
Snakes in ‘Hiss’tory 2 CHURNING OF anadya Mittal, Viii C, Modern school,
Vasant Vihar, Delhi
Snake Stories 3
Sacred Snakes 4 THE OCEAN
Snake Worship 5 The Devas decided to
Snakes Naturally! 6 churn the ocean with the
Snakes and the Ecosystem 7 help of the Asuras. The King
”Sense”ational Snakes 8 - 9 of Snakes, Vasuki, was used
Big “Venomous” Four 10 as the rope, Mount Mandara
What’s Your Poison? 11 was used as the pole and
Naga-The Snake Guardian 12 Vishnu transformed himself
The Naga Connection 13
Snakes in the Red 14 into a tortoise. After years
Snake in the City! 15 of churning poison came
Snakes and Communities 16 out. Lord Shiva drank the
Sssnakes...Ssshapes and Sssymbols 17 poison and saved the
Activity 4U 18 Devas and the Asuras.
Heritage News 19 Pranjal sharma, V, india Kids
Prize Winners, What’s Next? 20 school, udhampur
I N d IAN N A TIONA l T R UST f OR A RT AN d C U l TUR A l H ERIT A g E

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