Sangli, July 29 -- : The traditional 'Nagpanchami' festival, known for the live snake 'puja' and associated processions, was celebrated today for the first time in 23 years with 21 live snakes at Battis-Shirala in Shirala tehsil, about 70 km from here.
The celebration aimed to raise awareness about the importance of snakes in nature and to preserve traditional knowledge among the people.
Though the festival has been celebrated on a grand scale for many years, it had become a low-key affair for the past decade following a 2014 Supreme Court ban on the use of live snakes for public 'puja' and processions.
This year, however, the Central Environment Ministry and the Forest Department granted symbolic permission to 21 villagers to perform a...