The Nagapanchami festival will be celebrated this year on 13.08.2021. On this day large number of devotees visit Nagadevatha temples in and around Hyderabad city and offer milk, eggs etc., on Ant hills with the belief that Snakes live in the Ant hills and will drink milk and feed on eggs. Taking advantage of the presence of devotees, large number of Snake charmers capture Snakes much before the Nagapanchami and display the Snakes to the devotees. They make the Snakes to drink milk offered and collect money from the people visiting the temples.
The Snake charmers after capture of the Snakes from the natural habitat do not feed the Snakes or give water for one to two weeks. On the Nagapanchami day the Snakes are hungry and dehydrated for which reason they drink offered by Snake Charmers.
By nature Snakes do not drink milk and would prefer water. Some of the Snake Charmers remove the fangs (Venom gland) from Cobras so that they do not bite the people when displayed. Some times they stitch the mouth of the Snakes so that they cannot bite.
This way the Snakes are subjected to cruelty and pain. This practise has to be stopped by bringing awareness and educating the people not to offer milk, eggs to the Snakes and money to Snake Charmers.
Every year the Forest Department in coordination with NGOs like Friends of Snake Society, People for Animal, WWF, Wildlife warriors etc., conducts patrolling and raids in vulnerable areas to seize the Snakes and book cases. This year also these activities will have to be taken up to prevent and control use of live Snakes during Nagapanchami.
The DFOs, Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal have been requested to form mobile parties with Forest staff and NGOs for patrolling and raids in vulnerable locations in around Hyderabad city falling in their jurisdiction.
The staff deputed may be requested to coordinate with Forest Range Officer, Anti-Poaching Squad, Hyderabad and NGOs mentioned above in this regard. The Wildlife Crime Control Cell with 24 x 7 Toll Free No. 18004255364 will be receiving calls and communicating to the concerned patrolling parties. The Forest Department requests general public to cooperate the Department and discourage Snake Charmers from displaying live Snakes.
