Latest news with #Nagpanchami
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Poll promise on Nagpanchami celebrations at Battis Shirala fulfilled, says BJP MLA Deshmukh
Kolhapur: "The traditional worship of live cobras has been restored to educate people in Battis Shirala," said Satyajeet Deshmukh, the BJP MLA from Shirala. In Nov 2024, while campaigning for Deshmukh in the assembly election, senior BJP politicians and Union home minister assured that Mahayuti govt would ensure the resumption of the traditional worship of live cobras during the festival in Battis Shirala town of Sangli district. The Supreme Court had banned the worship of the snakes following complaints of harm to the reptiles during handling. Shah had then blamed vote-bank politics as the reason behind stopping Nagpanchami celebrations. "Once our govt is formed, the worship of 'nagas' with all rituals will restart in such a way that the respect of law is maintained and the celebrations take place in the traditional form," Shah had said. The promise was one of the reasons for Deshmukh's win, and now the Mahayuti politicians are boasting about fulfilling that promise. "The word given has been kept. It was a complex issue. However, tradition has been restored with education as the aspect. I think it is the first step towards the full restoration of the traditional worship of nagas in the town during Nagpanchami. Permits have been granted by imposing some terms and conditions. I raised the issue in the assembly, and our MP, Dhairyasheel Mane, raised the issue in Parliament," said Deshmukh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The lanes of the town were dotted with posters of Mahayuti politicians, thanking them for allowing the restoration of snake worship. MLA Deshmukh presided over the palkhi pujan ceremony, after which the celebrations started. He visited every mandal in the town. Mahayuti is likely to encash the partial restoration of the traditional Nagpanchami celebrations in the upcoming local body elections, especially the election for Shirala Nagar Panchayat.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Govt permit brings cobras back to Battis Shirala after 23 years; activists report violations at Nagpanchami event
1 2 3 4 5 6 Kolhapur: Live snake displays returned to Battis Shirala on the occasion of Nagpanchami after a gap of nearly 23 years as govt employed an "educational purposes" workaround to a 2014 Supreme Court ban on capture, display and worship of the reptiles. In this Sangli district town, located 50km from here, 21 men handled live Indian cobras (Naja naja) on Tuesday after obtaining special permits. The permits, issued by Srinivasa Rao, the chief wildlife warden and principal chief conservator of forests, Nagpur, on Monday (July 28), allowed the capture of the cobras solely for educational purposes aimed at promoting traditional knowledge on snake conservation. The permits are given to 21 residents of Battis Shirala to capture the snakes over five days starting July 27, under Section 12 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and Maharashtra Wildlife Protection Rules, 2014. Each permit holder has paid Rs 1,427 to the forest department and is required to release the snakes back into their natural habitat without any mortality. However, despite the ministry of environment, forests and climate change's explicit stipulation that "no commercial or entertainment of any kind shall be permitted," animal rights activists reported some violations at the event. Sangli-based animal rights activist Koustubh Pol, who witnessed the Nagpanchami celebrations in Battis Shirala on Tuesday, criticised the event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why are some Chinese youth calling themselves 'rat people', and what issues does it surface? CNA Read More Undo "Strangely, the permission was given on the eve of Nagpanchami, and yet almost a hundred Nag mandals had cobras on the morning of the festival. If all this is for an educational purpose, then why was the permit given only for Battis Shirala village? This looks pre-planned for political benefits. Though permission was given for 21 snakes, almost 100 Nag mandals took part in the celebrations with live cobras." Rahul Shinde, an ophiologist based in Solapur, argued that the display of snakes during the festival violated the Supreme Court order. "The permits were issued in haste. Those who are really into snake conservation efforts are punished for handling the snakes. At the same time, such permissions are granted. This is not okay. Did the authorities check whether the snakes are fed well and looked after before granting the permission? The snakes get stressed when they are surrounded by humans; they are cold-blooded animals and cannot withstand the high body temperature of humans. Also, ground vibrations due to the high-decibel sounds make snakes susceptible to strokes. They may ultimately die," he said. The TOI team visiting Battis Shirala also observed snakes being removed from pots and crowds dancing to high-decibel music. Informational posters were displayed only when snakes were taken out of the pots. Officials had expected the snakes to be showcased on platforms with informative boards in the background, with only the permit holders handling the snakes and providing oral information to the public. Jaysing Mahadik, forest ranger of the Shirala forest range, said, "The 21 mandals were given specific places to display one snake each and make people aware of the importance of the snake. The permission was given to do away with the misconceptions, which lead to the killing of snakes. We will gather all details on if the permit rules were violated after all teams sit together and will subsequently proceed with the action prescribed. " Bajrang Tukaram Kadam, a 35-year-old member of the Shri Ganesh Nagraj Mandal, adhered to the directives by explaining the ecological importance of snakes to visitors. "Snakes do not drink milk. They are friends of farmers. There are very few species that are venomous; however, due to fear and superstition, people tend to kill all snakes. Snakes are an important part of the ecosystem," he said. Battis Shirala had not displayed live cobras for 23 years before this year's event. The town is renowned for its long-standing tradition of worshipping live cobras during Nagpanchami. According to Siddharth Patil, a young resident, the community ensures that no snakes are harmed during the capture and worship process. "My father told me that experienced people associated with nag mandals used to go out after the Bendur festival, around two weeks before Nagpanchami, to catch the snakes. No snake was harmed. The snakes were nurtured, and after worship, they were released into their habitat. We consider the snake a god, and no one wants to harm snakes in any way," he said. Local residents, including women from the town's population of 35,000, consider cobras their brothers. Sadhana Naik, a resident, expressed gratitude towards govt for facilitating the worship, saying, "For us, the snakes are brothers. We thank govt for finding a way out to help us worship our brother." In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled that capturing, displaying, or worshipping live snakes was not protected as a fundamental religious right and violated wildlife protection laws. Cobra and other venomous snakes such as Russell's viper, spectacled cobra, and monocled cobra are listed as Schedule I part C animal in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to ensure their conservation.
Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Two dead in separate electrocution incidents in Pratapgarh
Two persons, including a woman and a young farmer, died in separate electrocution incidents reported from different parts of Pratapgarh district on Tuesday, police said. Woman electrocuted by fallen ceiling fan; farmer dies after stepping on live wire (Sourced) In Salempur Miria village under Manikpur police station limits, 50-year-old Sheela Devi Maurya died after being electrocuted by a fallen ceiling fan while preparing food for the Nagpanchami festival. According to police, Sheela, who was alone at home, stepped onto a damp floor where the ceiling fan had fallen, creating a live electrical current. She collapsed on the spot. Her son, Sanosh, found her unresponsive when he returned home around 11 am and rushed her to the local Community Health Centre, where doctors declared her dead. Station house officer (SHO) Deep Narayan confirmed that the body has been sent for post-mortem examination. In another incident reported from the Fatehpur police station area, a young farmer identified as Vikas Chandra Maurya died after stepping on a high-voltage cable while heading to his field around 4 am on Tuesday, police said. Vikas's younger brother, Lalchandra Maurya, alleged that two neighbours, Hari Om Singh and Krishna Kumar, had illegally laid a power cable across their field to operate a pump set for irrigation. 'It was this cable that my brother came in contact with, resulting in his death. We want strict action against those responsible,' Lalchandra said. Police have registered a case based on Lalchandra's complaint and are investigating the matter. The body has been sent for autopsy. SHO Rajendra Tripathi said further action will be taken based on the outcome of the inquiry.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No puja of live cobra this Nagpanchami as well in Battis Shirala, MLA appeals to residents to abide by court order
Kolhapur: The residents of Sangli's Battis Shirala were hopeful of getting permission from the authorities to perform puja of live cobra, a tradition they claimed to be seven centuries old. However, local MLA, Satyajit Deshmukh has appealed to them to follow the Supreme Court's guideline banning live snake worship. During the campaign for the assembly elections, Amit Shah had reportedly assured the residents that the traditional Nagpanchami of Shirala would be restored. Deshmukh later met him in Delhi, raised the issue in the assembly, and secured a meeting with the Union forest minister. Desmukh said since the process involves an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, it would take some time to restore the traditional Nagpanchami celebrations involving live snake workship. Therefore, he requested the residents to follow the SC guidelines for the upcoming festival on July 29. "We have succeeded in raising the issue at appropriate platforms. We are hopeful that someday a way out will be found, and the Shirala residents will again perform puja of live snakes. The Supreme Court order had banned the practice in 2014. I have appealed to the residents to abide by the SC order for the upcoming Nagpanchami celebrations." The residents said performing the puja of a live cobra snake is part of their culture and should be allowed like the way Jallikattu and bullock cart races, which were earlier banned, and are now allowed. The old texts mention the puja of a live snake. Even the Britishers were fascinated by the tradition and mentioned about this in the Gazette during their reign, they said. A senior official from Sangli said police and forest staffers would stage a march in the town informing resients that violators of the SC order would be punished. The forest department uses drone cameras to keep watch on snake catchers. It has been found that the believers catch snakes and hide them in matkas or gunny bags and take them out on Nagpanchami. The women, who believe the snake to be their brother, gather in the houses where the snake is kept and perform puja. The tradition was banned by the courts after wildlife activists brought to their notice that cobra snakes, which are protected species, are harmed during the procession and while holding competitions over whose cobra snake lifts its head high, looks healthy, and beautiful. The organisers have denied any such harm to the animal.
News18
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
‘Celebrate Ganeshotsav Like Never Before': Shelar Blames Urban Naxals For Attack On Hindu Fests
Ashish Shelar in Pen: 'There has been a systematic attempt to undermine our festivals like Ganeshotsav, Dahi Handi and Nagpanchami under the guise of environmental concerns." Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Adv Ashish Shelar on Sunday made an emotional appeal to the people of the state to celebrate this year's Ganeshotsav with unmatched fervour and pride, declaring it a State Festival while warning of a 'well-crafted plot" by so-called urban Naxals to target Hindu traditions. Speaking in the heart of Pen — a small town that has, for generations, given life to millions of Ganesha idols adorning homes and pandals across the country — Shelar's message struck a deeply personal chord with the community of sculptors whose livelihoods are entwined with this beloved festival. Addressing a packed gathering of artisans, local leaders, and residents at Tambadshet, of Raigad district, which is also known as hub of artisans, Shelar did not mince words. 'There has been a systematic attempt to undermine our festivals like Ganeshotsav, Dahi Handi and Nagpanchami under the guise of environmental concerns. But behind this is a deliberate conspiracy by urban Naxal elements with backing from Congress, the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena," Shelar said, receiving thunderous applause from idol makers who see their craft as a sacred tradition. Shelar recalled how the ban on Plaster of Paris (POP) idols, which once threatened to choke the local economy of places like Pen, was part of this larger narrative. 'Had we not stood firm, thousands of idol makers would have been left without work. Our Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ji and I fought this battle shoulder to shoulder — in the courts, on the streets and with the people — and we won," he said, promising continued protection of age-old practices. For many sculptors in attendance, Shelar's announcement that Ganeshotsav will now be officially celebrated as Maharashtra's State Festival felt like justice served. 'This festival feeds our families, binds our communities and keeps our traditions alive. Today we feel seen," said Abhay Mhatre, President of the Maharashtra Ganesh Sculptors' Association. As Shelar ended his address with chants of 'Ganapati Bappa Morya!", the message was loud and clear — this Ganeshotsav, Maharashtra will not just worship an idol but also stand guard against forces that, he said, seek to dilute its cultural soul. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
