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Time of India
19-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Snakes on necks, arms, and sticks! Viral video shows people wearing snakes during Nag Panchami fair in Bihar
Every year, during Nag Panchami, villagers across northern India come together in ceremonies that blend faith, tradition, and awe. In Bihar the atmosphere turns lively as devotees gather to honour the serpent goddess Mata Vishhari. For over a century, this festival has seen families carrying live snakes, sometimes wrapped around arms, shoulders, or even heads as a sign of devotion towards the serpent Goddess. While some appreciate the courage and cultural significance of the event, others voice concern over potential harm to humans and reptiles. But for the people of Mithila, this celebration is far more than a parade. It is in fact a living legacy, a pact with tradition, and a moment of deep communal identity. Similarly, this year also the Nag Panchami fair at Singhia Ghat in Bihar's Samastipur district drew hundreds of devotees during this week's celebrations. What sets this fair apart is the practice of carrying live snakes as part of the ritual, which runs from toddlers to seniors. The event kicked off at the Maa Bhagwati temple in Singhia Bazaar, where prayers were offered before the procession moved toward the Budhi Gandak riverbank. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Confirm: 60-Year-Old Sheds Fat With 4 Ingredients The Healthy Way Learn More Undo The footage from the fair went viral on social media, which shows participants draping cobras and other snakes around their necks, arms, or even balancing them on their heads. Some carried the reptiles swirled around sticks, while others reportedly performed daring acts, like holding snakes with their mouths, while chanting the name of Mata Vishhari. It attracts devotees from across the Mithila region, including Khagaria, Saharsa, Begusarai, and Muzaffarpur, who believe these acts bring blessings, protection, and fulfillment of family wishes. Apart from the public procession, women also perform intimate rituals within sacred groves known as Gahvars, praying for fertility and family well-being. Promises kept are honoured with offerings called Jhaap during the next Nag Panchami. After these practices come to an end, the snakes are gently released into nearby forested areas. According to NDTV, no snakebite cases or injuries have been reported so far from this fair. Still, animal rights advocates warn of harmful practices used in snake preparation, such as defanging, which is a cruel act that's illegal under wildlife protection laws.
Economic Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
'India not for beginners': Internet erupts with videos of devotees parading with snakes around their necks during Nag Panchami mela
Synopsis A unique spectacle unfolded in Bihar's Samastipur district during the annual Nag Panchami fair. Devotees, ranging from young boys to elderly men, paraded with live snakes draped around their bodies, treating them as divine symbols. The century-old festival, drawing crowds from across the Mithila region, centers on the worship of Mata Vishhari, the local snake goddess. Image: Instagram If you thought you'd seen everything India had to offer, think again. At the heart of Bihar's Samastipur district, a surreal yet sacred ritual played out this week that would leave many wide-eyed, or running the other the annual Nag Panchami fair at Singhia Ghat, hundreds of devotees walked through the crowds with live snakes draped around their necks, coiled around their arms, or even casually balanced on their celebrations kicked off with prayers at the Maa Bhagwati temple in Singhia Bazaar before the devotees made their way to the banks of the Budhi Gandak river. From young boys to elderly men, each participant proudly held a snake, treating it not as a threat but as a divine symbol. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pradeep Yadav (@br_vlogger17) Videos from the fair show families moving together through the thick crowd, their snakes slithering calmly on wooden sticks or nestled on their shoulders. Some were even seen performing jaw-dropping stunts, including catching snakes with their mouths, as part of the traditional ritual. The festival, which has been celebrated for over a hundred years, draws people from across the Mithila region, from Khagaria to Saharsa, Begusarai to Muzaffarpur. According to locals, this isn't just a display of devotion – it's a deeply-rooted cultural inheritance passed down through generations. At its spiritual core lies the worship of Mata Vishhari, the local snake goddess. Devotees chant her name and offer prayers before releasing the snakes into nearby forested the public procession may steal the spotlight, a quieter, more intimate ritual unfolds elsewhere. Inside Gahvars, sacred groves or enclosures, women gather to perform special pujas, praying to Nag Devta for fertility, good health, and family protection. If their wishes are fulfilled, they return the next year with Jhaap and prasad as a token of the potential risks of handling wild snakes, local reports confirm that no snakebite incidents or injuries were recorded. Inputs from agencies
