Nagara Panchami was observed with religious fervor at Nalilu Sri Subrahmanya Temple, known locally for its distinctive tradition of worshipping an anthill (hutta) as part of the festival rituals. Special rituals began at the temple's Naga Katte in the morning. Devotees offered abhisheka and performed Naga Tambila and other religious services dedicated to the serpent deity. A special puja was subsequently offered to the temple's presiding deity, Sri Subrahmanya.
Anthill worship remains a key tradition
The most distinctive feature of Nagara Panchami at Nalilu is the worship of the anthill. According to the temple's tradition, devotees offer milk and other ritual substances to the anthill and worship the serpent deity believed to be associated with it. The practice forms an important part of the temple's longstanding Nagaradhane tradition.
The temple is locally described as the only shrine in Puttur taluk where anthill worship is observed as a prominent Nagara Panchami ritual. This distinction, however, is best understood as a local/temple tradition unless supported by an official survey of temples across the taluk.
Devotees arrived at the temple with their families to offer prayers and seek blessings. People from neighbouring villages as well as other places also visited the shrine during the festival. Nagara Panchami rituals were conducted under the guidance of temple priests Praveen Shankar and Jagannath Upadhyaya.
Following the rituals, Annasantarpane was organised for devotees. Temple administrative trustee Santhosh Kumar Rai Nalilu, other trustees, community leaders and devotees participated in the celebrations. The observance at Nalilu once again highlighted the continuing presence of traditional serpent worship and anthill worship practices in the cultural and religious landscape of Puttur.
Keywords
Nalilu Subrahmanya Temple, Nagara Panchami Puttur, anthill worship, Hutta Puja, Nagaradhane Puttur, Savanoor, Puttur Suddi, Savanur suddi, Puttur News, Citizen News Puttur