Nagin dance: Cobra cameo turns Odisha wedding celebration into wildlife crime scene
wildlife crime scene
. On a Wednesday night in Chhedak village under Bansada panchayat of Bhadrak district, a groom's procession turned from festive to alarming when live cobras were brought to the dance floor.
Amid blaring music and cheering guests, two snake charmers and a transgender performer flaunted the venomous reptiles as part of a dramatic
Nagin dance
performance - a nod to India's folk traditions that took a dangerous, unlawful turn.
Videos captured by wedding guests quickly circulated on social media, showing the cobras being held aloft and swayed to the rhythm, as guests clapped and recorded the spectacle with their phones.
While some saw it as rustic entertainment, wildlife experts saw a blatant violation of the law - and a serious safety hazard.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This game will kill your time! Only 3% can pass Level 8. Can you beat the pirates?
Stormshot
Play Now
Undo
The Indian cobra, revered in mythology and feared in real life, is protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Its capture, possession or use for public display or performance is strictly prohibited. Yet, in this remote corner of the state, age-old practices still slip past modern legal boundaries.
Acting on a tip-off, the Bhadrak wildlife division attempted to intercept the wedding party near Ugratara Muni Chowk in Chandabali. However, by the time they arrived, the wedding party had already moved a considerable distance. The officials seized three live cobras along with their cages.
"The two individuals who brought the snakes are absconding. They were reportedly hired from Bhubaneswar and fled the scene before officials could intervene. Forest officials rescued three cobras," said Soubhagya Kumar Sahu, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bhadrak.
Beyond the spectacle, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the persistence of illegal wildlife practices disguised as tradition. Conservationists argue that such acts, while once culturally ingrained, are no longer acceptable in a country striving to protect its fragile ecosystems.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
32 minutes ago
- India Today
Voter list row: Why is Rahul Gandhi not signing affidavit as demanded by poll panel?
This episode of 5 Live features a significant political protest in Delhi, India, where India Bloc Members of Parliament, led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission. The protest centered on allegations of 'vote chori' or vote theft and manipulation of voter lists, specifically concerning the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. Police stopped the demonstration, leading to the detention of approximately 300 MPs. The government has stated these allegations are baseless. In a separate development, the Supreme Court issued a directive for all stray dogs in Delhi NCR to be picked up and housed in dedicated shelters within eight weeks, prohibiting their release back onto the streets. The court also warned of penalties for any obstruction to this process. The program further covers Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's nuclear threat against India, delivered from American soil, including statements about taking 'half the world down' and threatening missile strikes on Indian dams. India's Ministry of External Affairs termed these remarks reckless and globally destabilizing. Additionally, the show reports on a collision between a Chinese Navy vessel and its own Coast Guard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea, highlighting ongoing regional tensions.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Countering terrorism': US designates Balochistan Liberation Army terror outfit; decision after Asim Munir's visit
Representative image NEW DELHI: United States has officially designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), the State Department announced on Monday. "Today, the Department of State is designating The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA's previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation," the department said in a statement, according to news agency ANI. The action taken by the department, reflects US President Donald Trump's administration's commitment to "countering terrorism." "Today's actions are taken pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register," the dept added. The BLA was first designated as an SDGT in 2019 after a series of terrorist attacks. Since then, it has claimed responsibility for multiple assaults, including suicide bombings by the Majeed Brigade. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo In March 2025, the BLA claimed the responsibility behind the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train from Quetta to Peshawar, in which 31 civilians and security personnel were killed and over 300 passengers were taken hostage. Last year in 2024, the group claimed deadly suicide attacks near Karachi airport and at the Gwadar Port Authority Complex
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Despicable acts of violence': Ireland's dy PM meets Indians over recent attacks
NEW DELHI: Ireland's deputy prime minister Simon Harris met members of the Indian community in Dublin on Monday to reassure them in the face of a string of attacks on Indian nationals, which he condemned as 'despicable acts of violence'. Ireland's foreign ministry said in a separate social media post that Harris 'committed to continuing to work with Minister for Migration [Colm Brophy], Gardaí and others to support Ireland's migrant communities (X/SimonHarrisTD) In the past few weeks, a taxi driver, a data scientist and a sous chef from India were the targets of racially motivated assaults by Irish youth that left them with serious injuries. Videos have circulated on social media of another tech worker who was beaten, stabbed and partially stripped at Tallaght, while a six-year-old Irish-Indian girl was allegedly attacked while playing outside her home in County Waterford. 'Today, I met representatives of Ireland's [Indian] community. I completely condemn the despicable acts of violence and racism that we have seen against some members of the [Indian] community in recent weeks,' Harris, who is also the foreign minister, said on social media after meeting representatives of the Indian community. 'I want to thank the Indian community for their very positive contribution to [Ireland],' he added. Ireland's foreign ministry said in a separate social media post that Harris 'committed to continuing to work with Minister for Migration [Colm Brophy], Gardaí and others to support Ireland's migrant communities'. The Garda or Ireland's state police force is investigating some of the attacks on Indians as possible hate crimes. Harris said on social media last week that Ireland will 'never ever tolerate racism' while thanking the Indian community for 'their contributions to our country in so many ways'. The number of Indians working in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years and official figures from the Irish government showed there were more than 78,000 Indians in the country in 2023. A total of 13,500 Indians were granted skilled employment permits by Irish authorities in 2024, accounting for a third of all permits issued. The Indian embassy in Dublin issued an advisory on August 1 that cautioned Indians to take 'reasonable precautions for their personal safety and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours' following an increase in physical attacks on Indian nationals. The Indian envoy in Dublin and the Irish ambassador to New Delhi have been coordinating to tackle the issue. Indian ambassador Akhilesh Mishra last week thanked Harris for his 'strong message of support to [the] Indian community and against racism', while Irish envoy Kevin Kelly added: 'We will not let racism win.'
