Villagers Demand Permission To Perform Puja Of Live Snakes

05 July,Sangli

Batish Shirala village of the district Sunday observed a total bandh with a chain-fast,demanding permission to perform puja of live snakes on Nagpanchami festival, which will be celebrated on August 19.

Shiral Grampanchayat, Ambamata Trust and villagers have decided to protest against the Bombay High Courts order banning puja of live snakes which villagers catch during the Nagpanchami festival every year.

They demanded that permission be given with change in law as a special case to celebrate Nagpanchami festival with puja of live snakes. All activities in the village including markets, shops, hotels observed a bandh, downing their shutters. They also announced that Athavadi Bazaar (weekly market), held every Monday, be closed to protest against the ban.

Last year on a plea of a animal lover Anil Patil, Bombay High Court Justice Abhay Oak and A S Chandurkar imposed a ban on puja of live snakes as per Wild Life Security Act.