Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Aditya Aithal Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi Mangaluru/Udupi, July 29: Nagara Panchami, the festival dedicated to serpent worship, is being observed with devotion across the coastal region on Tuesday, Juy 29 with preparations completed at most naga shrines. Marking the beginning of a series of upcoming festivals — including Upakarma, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, and Ganesh Chaturthi — Nagara Panchami is being celebrated on Tuesday at prominent naga sthanas like Kukke Shri Subrahmanya, Kudupu Anantapadmanabha temple, and various naga shrines and sacred groves. Mangaluru Udupi Due to a lull in rainfall on Monday, there was a rush to purchase turmeric leaves, tender coconut, flowers, and other offerings required for the ritual of naga tambila. Udupi witnesses festive shopping rush Nagara Panchami is being celebrated at naga sthanas and sacred groves across the district, with milk and siyaala offerings, along with special pujas being performed from early morning. On Monday, markets witnessed a flurry of activity as people bought siyaala, flowers, vegetables, and other essentials. Prices of several items reportedly saw a marginal rise. This year, most naga sthana authorities have also appealed to devotees to refrain from bringing milk in plastic containers. In addition to grand temple celebrations, several family owned Nagabanas-sacred groves dedicated to serpent deities-also hosted special poojas and religious rituals. Traditional ceremonies were conducted in multiple Moola Nagabanas, preserving age-old practices passed down through generations. Prominent Naga shrines, including the four Skandalayas at Mucchalakodu, Mangodu, Tangodu, and Aritodu, as well as the Sri Venkatramana Temple, Neelavara Panchamikana, Sagri Vasuki Subramanya Temple, and Badagupete Anantha Padmanabha Temple, witnessed large gatherings of devotees offering prayers and performing rituals with devotion. The next major festivals to follow will be Krishna Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi. Nagara Panchami celebrated with fervour at Kukke Subrahmanya: At the renowned Kukke Shri Subrahmanya Temple, Nagara Panchami is being observed with special rituals. At the temple’s nagapratishta mantapa in the outer courtyard, abhisheka with milk and tender coconut is being offered to the serpent deity. Following the maha puja in the afternoon, special naivedya offerings will be made at the nagapratishta mantapa. In the morning, a panchamrita mahabhisheka was performed. Daily harake sevas (offerings in fulfilment of vows) will continue as usual. The nagapratishta mantapa has been specially decorated with flowers and natural items for the occasion.
