Page 16 - Jan-Mar 2019

Snakes and Communities

nAgPAncHAMi
Ancient ‘SnAKe’ triBe iruLAS A legend regarding this festival says

Irula are inhabitants of the that a farmer once accidentally
Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil killed a serpent. Enraged, the
Nadu and Kerala. The Irulas mother of the serpent bit
used to serve as night guards and killed the farmer and his
to the Cholas for thousands family. One of his daughters
of years. They are known to was spared because at the
be skilled snake catchers, and time she was praying to the Illustration by: Tanya Manjkhola,
specialise in venom extraction Nagas. This act brought back VIII B, Scholars Home Sr. Sec.
and production of antidotes for the farmer and the rest of School, Dehradun
snake bites. his family. Ever since this
incident, snakes have been
sankari Karthik, X b, sri sankara senior secondary school, adyar, Chennai
worshipped.

tHe SAPerAS OF Devotees keep fast and
offer milk, eggs, dry fruits
nOrtH indiA to their snake deities. The
rituals and procedures
The Sapera is a community differ from place to place.
found in North India. They Traditionally, married
are also known as Barwa young women visit their
Sampheria in West Bengal, pre-marital households to Illustration by: Rinky Yadav, VIII,
Sapela in Punjab and Illustration by: Ananya Dhimahi, X A, celebrate the festival. Siddhi Sagar Academy, Lalitpur
Sparera in Madhya Pradesh. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Atmakuri
Rama Rao School, Jubilee Hills, K. sai Varshitha, iX, Kakinada Public school, Kakinada; T. Prathikshaa,
a. smrithi, iX C, sri sankara senior Hyderabad iX a, sri sankara Vidyashramam Mat. hr. sec. school, Thiruvanmiyur,
secondary school, adyar, Chennai Chennai; M. akshaya lekshmi, Vii a, glazebrooke Public school, salem;
Krishika gupta, Viii a, Model academy, Jammu; sonakshi K., V D, scholars
SnAKe FeStiVALS ArOund indiA home sr. sec. school, Dehradun

In Rajasthan, they celebrate many snake festivals like MiLK MYtH
Nagpanchami and Gauga or Guga. In Bishnupur in Snakes cannot digest
West Bengal, Jhapan Utsav is celebrated. It is celebrated milk. They are usually
in August on the day of Manasa Puja. Snake charmers starved during the
perform folklore related to the event. Vallam Kali festival period,
celebrated during Onam in Kerala includes a traditional because of which
snake boat race. Ant-hills are considered to be a favourite they drink any
dwelling of cobras and are worshipped by pouring milk accessible liquid,
into them during even if it is harmful
Nagapanchami. for them.

Priya Jangir, iX a,
Dundlod Vidyapeeth, rajeev Karakoti, Viii a,
Jhunjhunu; Kanishka, Cambridge school, Noida;
iX D, siddharth Vikayath, Viii b, oxford grammar
international school, school, hyderabad
hisar; ramkrishna, Illustration by: Madhur Soni, VIII, Siddhi Sagar Academy, Lalitpur
Vii, Vidya gyan
leadership academy, ActiVitY: ceLeBrAte WitH A diFFerence
sitapur; Vinja Chhaya,
iX a, Cygnus world Carry out an awareness drive in your
school, Vadodara
neighbourhood. Bust myths related to snakes and
Illustration by: Ayushi Upadhyay, VIII B, their venom and talk about snake threats related
Scholars Home Sr. Sec. School, Dehradun
to practices and festivals.

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