Revering Serpent God: Devotees Throng Temples on Nagara Panchami
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Aug 4: The first festival of the Hindu calendar year, Nagara Panchami, was celebrated on the morning of Thursday August 4 with utmost devotion and gaiety. In various Naga temples and moolasthanas different types of worships including 'Naga Thambila' were offered early morning.
Nagara Panchami is one of the most ancient and sacred festivals in this part of the coastal region. The coastal belt and Western Ghats have been a natural habitat for serpents since times unknown.
On Thursday, devotees in large numbers thronged Kudupu Shree Ananthapadmanabha Temple from 4 am onwards and participated in various rituals connected with the festival.
Panchami of Shukla Paksha or the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravana month as per the Hindu calendar is the day of Naga Panchami. The period during which the festival falls is known to be an ideal one for the serpents to hatch eggs.
People of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts worship the serpent god Subrahmanya. According to legend, the districts were reclaimed by Parashurama from the sea. Hence the serpent is worshipped in honour of original inhabitants.
In the coastal belt, Subrahmanya in Sullia taluk, Kudupu near Mangalore, Kalavar near Kundapur and Manjeshwar in Kasargod district are the famous abodes of the serpent god, where devotees throng in large numbers on Naga Panchami. The temples wore a festive look with flowers adorning them.
On the occasion of Nagara Panchami, the price of flowers shot up. Demand for milk which the devotees offer to the serpent god was also more than usual.