Forest officials on alert at Battis Shirala to protect snakes during Nag Panchami

Kolhapur/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Battis Shirala village, renowned for its Nag Panchami processions, is bustling with preparations for the celebration on Friday. The administration is keeping a close watch on the preparations to prohibit the illegal play of live snakes.
On Friday, processions will be undertaken by the Nag mandals in Battis Shirala. A heavy police force has been deployed in the city for the same.
A parade was held on Wednesday evening by the forest department to create public awareness for the protection of snakes.Several NGOs working in the field of environment are also conducting awareness programs over snakes ahead of Nag Panchami which is celebrated on the fifth day of Shravan Shukla Paksha, in honour of the Snake God.
Ophiologist from Solapur district Rahul Shinde said, “The origin of snake worship in India can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilization. Despite advancements in technology, misconceptions about snakes persist in society.
Snakes have often been viewed as adversaries and symbols of death. Media, including movies, frequently perpetuate these myths. Films like "Nageen," "Nagina," "Anaconda" and "Dudh ka Karj" have propagated harmful ideas about snakes, whereas the Marathi film "Kalbhairav" portrays a more positive image".
Wildlife warden for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dr Kishor Pathak, said citizens should strictly avoid killing any kind of snake. Barring four species of snakes — Indian Cobra, Russel’s viper, Saw-scaled viper and Common Krait — all other snakes are non-venomous, he said.
“Rescue experts are just a call away to take away the snake if spotted in human areas. Like every other creature, snakes also have a distinct role in maintaining the food chain and striking ecological balance,” said Pathak.