The best part of staying in Sindhudurg is experiencing the traditional celebrations of every festival. It’s wonderful to see everyone come together and celebrate with pure enthusiasm. Nagpanchami celebrations in Sindhudurg are worth experiencing. I never got a chance to see the celebrations as they are usually held at our ancestral house. Well, most of you know by now that I was born and brought up in Pune so I knew about things but experiencing them in the present helps me understand the rituals and traditions better. Love upgrading myself with every aspect of life.
A little backstory to this – My father-in-law was an RMP and they never got a chance to visit for festivals. We only visit the ancestral house for the Ganesh Chaturthi on the first day with the family. Okay coming back to Nagpanchami celebrations in Sindhudurg – We went to our other house where my mother-in-law stays as everyone around celebrates nagpanchami in the neighborhood.
We wanted our little girl to experience Nagpanchami Celebrations in Sindhudurg. We love to experience these things with her and she loves it like every small curious kid. I know a few things from my husband and mother-in-law and thought of writing about it today.
Nagpanchami Celebrations in Sindhudurg
Nag is often made in Ganpati schools in Sindhudurg. Locals purchase them from local markets or these schools and they are often handmade by talented local artists or enthusiasts. It is usually brought home by family members on the nagpanchami morning.
The place where the Nag is placed to perform puja is already engraved with Nag picture tiles. Long back when tiles were not in the picture the nag was painted by one of the family members. It was a new Nag painting every year. The Nag is always brought home on a Colocasia leaf or अळू. A small puja is performed by all the members. The Prasad is usually jaggery, dry coconut, chana dal, and साळीच्या लाह्या. It is believed the Nag loves milk and sweet fragrances. Incense sticks, dhoop, and night-blooming jasmine or parijaat are offered to the Nag idol.
Did you know on this day no one in Sindhudurg cooks food on tawa? Yes, people avoid food items made or fried on tawa. This is because tawa resembles सर्प-फण.
For lunch, it is usually a simple dal, usal (often green vatane or chavli) with rice. The food contains freshly grated coconut.
Every region has its special dish for festivals. Nagpanchami Celebrations in Sindhudurg is incomplete without patole/patoli or पातोळे. These are made with freshly grated coconut and jaggery stuffing. These are steamed on a fresh turmeric leaf. Aai prepared the same thing but in a modak form. In the evening, a small puja is performed and the Nag is immersed near the अळू/Colocasia tree.
On this day, farmers don’t go to the farms or touch their tools. This is like paying an ode to the Nag Devta as farms usually have snakes roaming around.
I often feel these celebrations add a breeze of positivity to the environment. This marks the beginning of festivities in the district as Ganesh Chaturthi is quite special here in Sindhudurg. Every family has their Ganpati at home. This is why when the Nag is immersed, one of the family members takes the main Ganpati paat or aasan to the Ganpati school. Later, Lord Ganesha enters the household on the same paat or aasan. I’m planning to write a detailed article on the traditional celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi in Sindhudurg.
Did you ever witness Nagpanchami Celebrations in Sindhudurg?
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