Nagula Chavithi Celebrated with Traditional Fervour in Visakhapatnam

 Visakhapatnam: The city of Visakhapatnam buzzed with spiritual fervour as thousands of devotees observed Nagula Chavithi (Naga Panchami) on Tuesday. This traditional celebration, which takes place on the fourth day following Diwali Amavasya, attracted devotees to snake pits and temples throughout the city. Local vendors reported a noticeable increase in sales of milk sachets and eggs, crucial offerings for the rituals. Devotees brought along elaborate puja materials, including fresh flowers, earthen lamps, incense sticks, camphor, fruits, and homemade sweets to honour the serpent deity.

"Bursting crackers near the snake pits is part of our tradition," shared N. Koyala, a homemaker from Seethamadhara. "It acts as a signal of our presence, helping to avoid unexpected encounters with snakes during worship."

Celebrations were particularly vibrant in areas such as Seethammadhara, MVP Colony, Gopalapatnam, Visalakshinagar, and parts of the Andhra University campus. The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park opened its gates early at 7:30 AM to accommodate the influx of visitors. The park recorded a footfall of 9,914 guests, generating revenue of Rs 7,58,270.

However, officials have raised alarms about a troubling trend involving the creation of fake snake pits by scammers aiming to exploit the festivities. These counterfeit pits are reportedly used to collect offerings from unsuspecting devotees, with items like milk, eggs, and sweets later resold for profit.

Despite these issues, the festival remained a lively expression of faith and tradition, with participants upholding age-old customs of the serpent deity through traditional offerings and prayers.