Nagpanchami celebrated with fervour at Battisshirala

Sangli, Aug 18 (UNI) The Nagpanchami festival was celebrated today with fervour at Battisshirala town in this district of western Maharashtra.

Various mandals (social organisations) here performed the puja of snake idols in their respective areas as well as houses and also performed puja of Goddess Ambamata in the temple earlier in the day to mark the beginning of the day-long festival.

The organisations took out processions of the snake god's replicas instead of live snakes later in the day. The festival was celebrated as per the court's directives.

The festival passed off on a peaceful note and no untoward incident was reported, police said.

The celebration of Nagpanchami festival was a low-key affair at Battisshirala this year too as it has been since the last six years in light of the court ruling. The town was famous for its mass parade of live snakes. However, after the court ruling, the procession of live snakes or their exhibition at public places has been stopped.

UNI