Mangaluru: The coastal belt celebrated the ‘Nagara Panchami’ festival with all fervour on Sunday, August 7.
As usual, on Sunday morning, large number of devotees thronged famous temples of Kukke Sri Subramanya in Sullia and Kudupu temple on outskirts of Mangaluru to offer prayers to the serpent god seeking his benevolence.
The idols of snake gods are offered milk, tender coconut, turmeric, areca flowers among other auspicious materials on this day by the devotees. The rituals of anointing the auspicious materials on the idols begin early in the morning and continue till about noon.
Apart from temples, similar rituals are performed at the households where there are ‘Nagabanas’ (divine forests) too. On this day most of the family members meet at their ancestral homes to perform poojas to the serpent gods.
‘Manjal Iretha Gatti’, a sweet rice pie rolled in turmeric leaf is the special delicacy of the day.
