Nag Panchami today: NGOs, activists clear myths about snakes

Snake rescuers and activists working on spreading awareness about snakes in public are gearing up for a busy Wednesday. With Nag Panchami being observed, they do not want to leave any chances of snakes being harmed.

While most of the NGOs rescuing snakes affirmed that high level of awareness among people of Mumbai and nearby areas has ensured that there are no snake charmers with snakes near the temples, the statement of environment minister Prakash Javdekar to celebrate traditional festivals as per traditions has left them worried.

A few months ago, it was reported that Prakash Javadekar had given an assurance to some people from Battis Shirale that he would revive this 'culturally important tradition' of Nag Panchami by making the necessary changes in the law during the winter session of the Parliament. He also said that he would himself take part in the festival at Battis Shirale next year.

While NGOs working for snakes are prepared, wildlife activists are also gearing up to put up a fight against any case of traditional practice of catching snakes on Nag Panchami as suggested by Javdekar.

"We are well prepared for Nag Panchami and have formed teams that will be moving around different locations and keep a watch on the celebrations. We are using social media to the maximum and are asking people to immediately contact our helpline number in case they find anyone trying to feed snakes with milk," said Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW)

Sunish Subramanian of Paws-Mumbai said that they can't take any chance by dropping their guard. "For the past few days, our team has been gathering information and we will be visiting famous temples which attract the maximum devotees. We will also keep a check on railway stations where snake charmers appear to attract devotees," he said.

Nitin Walmiki, a biodiversity researcher and member of NGO Eco-Echo, said, "It's the cobra and rat snakes that are most commonly displayed by snake charmers. We urge people to be alert and capture their pictures and alert the local police station or snake rescue helplines so that they can be nabbed and the snake be freed from torture."

NGOs mostly working for snakes are also using Nag Panchami for not only creating awareness but also clearing myths about snakes.

"Let's prove to the environment minister that we are definitely more educated, humane and intelligent and won't support or push live worship of snakes, which leads to the death of thousands of snakes annually," voiced naturalist Anand Pendharkar.

Kedar Gore, director of Corbett Foundation and an active wildlife activist, said, "It's shocking that the minister even made such a statement that goes against the ethos of what his ministry is meant for. Permitting live snake worship is like legalising catching of snakes. Any attempt to dilute these laws would prove to be disastrous in the long run and every wildlife lover in the state will oppose it."

1. If you spot a snake charmer call
Mumbai Police:100
Forest control room:28866449
Raww:7666680202
Paws-Mumbai: 9833480388
Eco-Echo: 9869933778
Paws: 9820161114

2. Snakes don't drink milk
Snakes are reptiles and milk does not form a part of their diet. Unfortunately, snakes subjected to torture by snake-charmers drink milk in desperation; but that is unnatural. Neither it likes milk nor does any supernatural power drive it to drink it.
Milk is like poison for snakes. Ingestion of milk results in indigestion in snakes.

3. Snakes are protected species
Indian Cobra (Naja naja), along with several other species of snakes, belongs to Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and is protected in India.

4. Battis Shirala gears up
"We are prepared to observe Nag Panchami as directed by the court in 2014 and there will be no capturing and exhibition of snakes. We have formed 10 teams of forest department staff to ensure that the festival is celebrated without causing any harm to snakes. On Tuesday, there was a rally held and street plays performed to encourage people," said SB Chavan, DFO Sangli.