Today is Nagara (Naga) Panchami

Wow ! Such a beautiful temple and the surroundings are also so peaceful and pristine. Yes, in Maharashtra it is celebrated as Naga Panchami. We too worship the snakes and offer them milk. As snakes are friends of farmers, there is a peculiar tradition observed in Maharashtra on this day, which is, only food that is steamed is eaten today, no cutting, shopping, or frying is allowed, no idea why. We make a sweet dish called 'dind' which is a kind of dumpling, a mixture of steamed chana dal is cooked with jaggery, to which nutmeg and cardamom is added., This mix is then filled into wheat puris and  folded to form a squarish dumpling which is then steamed and eaten with ghee. My mum used to do all this, I don't!

In AP, the worshiping the snakes is prevalent after the 5th Day of Deepavali. It is known as "Nagula Chaviti."

Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:

Wow ! Such a beautiful temple and the surroundings are also so peaceful and pristine. Yes, in Maharashtra it is celebrated as Naga Panchami. We too worship the snakes and offer them milk. As snakes are friends of farmers, there is a peculiar tradition observed in Maharashtra on this day, which is, only food that is steamed is eaten today, no cutting, shopping, or frying is allowed, no idea why. We make a sweet dish called 'dind' which is a kind of dumpling, a mixture of steamed chana dal is cooked with jaggery, to which nutmeg and cardamom is added., This mix is then filled into wheat puris and  folded to form a squarish dumpling which is then steamed and eaten with ghee. My mum used to do all this, I don't!

 

 @ rambabu

In AP, the worshiping the snakes is prevalent after the 5th Day of Deepavali. It is known as "Nagula Chaviti."

I guess worshiping snake god is prevalent among most Hindus ...many of our customs are similar along the Konkan coast...Kalyani, the sweet sounds lovely ! We make something similar the jaggery and coconut mixture filled into rice batter which is spread on turmeric leaves , which is then folded and steamed, very fragrant and tasty ( it is called manjalda ireta adye).Almost all hindu households make this and exchange it with friends from other community.In fact i just came back after visiting two of my christian friends who love the sweet ..

The Nairs of Kerala and Tulu Bunts of Karnataka in South India  also still carry out these ancient customs of snake worshiping.

Yes Tulu Bunts are from Mangalore and my mothers family belongs to that community... 

Worshiping snake. Nagas are an important part of Hindu mythology.. Nagas have different names too like Adiishesha, Vasuki etc.

Offering milk to snakes is not proper, as I have read that snakes do not consume it and in fact it may be poisonous to them. However traditions are to be followed but if scientifically it is true than reform can be done. Nagas or serpents have a special place in Hinduism and in past I have seen many bow with folded hands to the snake of a snake charmer. However in China I have seen snakes kept alive in bottles at the entrance of hotels and customers can select one for it being served to them inside. Different cultures different customs.

 Traditions in Hiduism on snake worshiping we are discussing. When it comes to scientific evidence,the fact is Snakes are reptiles, not mammals to drink milk.  Milk cannot be digested by reptiles and they eventually die!

And would you believe that all Nagas (people of Nagaland) irrespective of their religion eat Nagas (snakes). A Mongolian tradition like people in many east Asian countries (including China) prefer to eat snakes in many ways.

In our country snake is associated with Lord Shiva so people worship snakes too.

I for some snakes are sacred, for some snakes are food, that too delicious food. Live snakes are more in demand as eatables.

On these day many people give milk to the snake but its not good for the snake but though the people keeps on believing these old and bad myth 

Some snakes especially the Cobras living within the temple and nearby forests get used to drinking milk and I have seen them come to the small canal into which the milk and tender coconut water flows and drink from there.The place is wired so that they are unable to come inside. I guess they too get used to the diet because according to one priest one of the snakes a huge King Cobra which dwells there is at least 20 years old whereas most of them die by the time they are 17-18 years old,  and the King Cobra has been coming every year to drink the milk offered ..

Offering milk to the snake and worshiping is a tradition. Please elaborate why it's not good to offer milk to the snakes.

Naga Panchami is well known and celebrated in entire country. But the totle is about Nagara Panchami. I felt this this is some new festival not so far known. But it appears tat this is a spelling mistake. I'm editing this. 

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

Naga Panchami is well known and celebrated in entire country. But the totle is about Nagara Panchami. I felt this this is some new festival not so far known. But it appears tat this is a spelling mistake. I'm editing this. 

I am sorry you thought so, but it was definitely not a spelling mistake since we call it Nagara Panchami in the south and my state , I was wondering how the change in the title took place/...

http://www.itslife.in/festivals/nagara-panchami

Nagara Panchami is the name popular in many states in India. In the thread it was clearly mentioned that in Karnatak the snake worshiping is known as Nagara Panchami. Hence it was not a mistake.

usha manohar wrote:

Gulshan Kumar Ajmani wrote:

Naga Panchami is well known and celebrated in entire country. But the totle is about Nagara Panchami. I felt this this is some new festival not so far known. But it appears tat this is a spelling mistake. I'm editing this. 

I am sorry but it was definitely not a spelling mistake since we call it Nagara Panchami in the south and my state , I was wondering how the change in the title took place/...

http://www.itslife.in/festivals/nagara-panchami

 

Actually this is known as Naga Panchami in North India. From description of the festival, I noticed that this is Naga Panchami and 'Nagara Panchami' could be misspelling.  As you say, this is not spelling mistake, I'm again editing. .   

Mannarasala Temple in Kerala is famous for snake worship. It is heard that there are about 30000 images of snakes in that premise.

Naga worship or worshiping the snakes is a religious practice prevalent in every part of India with some name or other. It is a part of Hindu religion.

We worship most of the animals or reptiles who can harm us. But I wonder if any where the most faithful animal to man the dog is worshiped. On the contrary calling someone a kutta is an insult.