- Title: Indian devotees feed milk to snakes on Hindu festival
- Date: 13th August 2021
- Summary: KANPUR, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 13, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** 'TRISHULA' (TRIDENT) (WEAPON WIELDED BY HINDU GOD OF DESTRUCTION, SHIVA)/DEVOTEES OFFERING PRAYERS IN TEMPLES DEVOTEE OFFERING FLOWERS SNAKE CHARMERS SITTING WITH SNAKES IN BASKETS SNAKES VARIOUS OF SNAKE BEING FED MILK (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) MANAGER, NAGESHWAR TEMPLE, VINOD NAND GIRI, SAYING: "This year, because of coronavirus, the programme (prayers) that was held for the past many years (on 'Naag Panchami') is not happening as there is no permission from the authorities but devotees will be able to witness the yearly grand feast of 56 offerings (offered to god) and the decoration of god Nageshwara (Hindu God Shiva)." PRAYAGRAJ, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 13, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES STANDING IN QUEUES OUTSIDE TEMPLE TEMPLE/DEVOTEES GOING INSIDE TEMPLE DEVOTEES STANDING IN QUEUE OUTSIDE TEMPLE DEVOTEES OFFERING PRAYERS INSIDE TEMPLE STATUE OF SERPENT DEITY FLOWERS AND MILK BEING OFFERED CROWD OF DEVOTEES AT TEMPLE SNAKE IN BASKET DEVOTEES FEEDING MILK TO SNAKE AND TAKING BLESSINGS SNAKE IN BASKET VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES STANDING IN QUEUE/VARIOUS OF SNAKE IN BASKET (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, VAISHALI, SAYING: "All the sins (of devotees) are washed away by offering milk, grains, fruits, flowers or water from holy Ganges River in temples today." VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 13, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) DEVOTEES AT TEMPLE DEVOTEES GOING INSIDE TEMPLE DEVOTEES OFFERING MILK IN HOLY POND VARIOUS OF OFFERINGS IN POND PAINTING OF SNAKES ON WALL PRIEST TAKING MILK AND OFFERING IT TO 'SHIVALINGAM' (PHALLUS REPRESENTATION OF HINDU GOD OF DESTRUCTION SHIVA) MILK AND OTHER OFFERINGS ON 'SHIVALINGAM' DEVOTEES STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, MENKA SINGH, SAYING: "On the day of 'Naag Panchami', everyone offers milk after coming to temples of Lord Shiva (Hindu god of destruction), they pray for what they want and Lord Shiva fulfils their wishes." UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA (AUGUST 13, 2021) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) ILLUMINATED TEMPLE SIGNBOARD READING (Hindi): "NAGCHANDRESHWAR" PRIESTS REMOVING CURTAIN AS PRAYERS ARE CHANTED IDOLS MILK BEING OFFERED/PRAYERS BEING CHANTED PRIEST PERFORMING 'AARTI' (HOLY RITUAL OF FIRE) AS PRAYERS ARE CHANTED IDOLS VARIOUS OF MILK BEING OFFERED TO 'SHIVALINGAM' 'AARTI' BEING PERFORMED
- Embargoed: 27th August 2021 11:07
- Keywords: Hindus India Kanpur Prayagraj Shiva Ujjain Varanasi coronavirus devotees prayers religion snake ‘Naag Panchami’
- Location: KANPUR, PRAYAGRAJ, VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH/ UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
- City: KANPUR, PRAYAGRAJ, VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH/ UJJAIN, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001EQ44CI7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Hindu devotees in India fed milk to snakes and worshipped them as they celebrated 'Naag Panchami' or snake festival amid coronavirus pandemic on Friday (August 13).
Despite the coronavirus concerns, temples were crowded with devotees in India's northern Kanpur, Prayagraj, and Varanasi cities as they gathered to offer prayers.
Prayers and milk were offered to the Hindu god of destruction, Shiva and serpent deity in temples to mark the auspicious occasion.
"All the sins (of devotees) are washed away by offering milk, grains, fruits, flowers or water from holy Ganges River in temples today," said a devotee, Vaishali.
In central Ujjain city, priests performed rituals and offered prayers in the temple as they worshipped Shiva on the day.
'Naag Panchami' is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the fortnight leading to the full moon, during the monsoon month of 'Shravan'.
On this day, worshippers observe a fast throughout the day and there is a general belief that feeding milk to snakes rids people of their problems. People also avoid ploughing or digging the earth on this auspicious occasion as it could harm and anger the snakes which reside underneath. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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