Mangaluru, (The Hindu): Thousands of devotees thronged several Naga Kshetras in Dakshina Kannada to pay obeisance to Naga, the snake God, on the occasion of Naga Panchami, which also ushered in a host of festivities with the onset of the Lunar month of Shravana.

The Shree Subrahmanya Temple in the temple town of Kukke Subrahmanya witnessed heavy footfall from nearby areas as well as from distant places to participate in the celebrations.

The Naga statues at the Naga Pratishtha Mantapa were bathed with milk and tender coconut water even as special pujas were performed to the main deity inside the sanctum sanctorum.

Specially prepared rice and milk porridge was served to devotees as prasada even as thousands consumed lunch at the temple as usual. A large number of devotees also performed the regular sevas of Naga Pratishtha, Ashlesha Bali, Sesha Seve, Karthika Puje on the occasion.

Kudupu

In Mangaluru, hundreds thronged the Sri Anantapadmanabha Temple at Kudupu, one of the prominent Naga Kshetras in the region. While the temple is under renovation and devotees could get only the darshan of the presiding deity, they offered ‘Tanu’ to Naga statues at the Naga Bana behind the temple.

Due to heavy footfall at the temple, the Mangaluru-Moodbidri-Karkala Highway on the side of which the temple is situated, witnessed frequent traffic hold-ups.

Devotees also offered sevas and ‘Tanu’ at the Naga abode at the historic Mangaladevi Temple in Bolara and many other temples, including the Shree Jnanashakti Subrahmanya Temple, Pavanje, Shree Durgaparameshwari Nagakannika Temple, Konchady, the Nagabana at Thokkottu, the Subrahmanya Temple at Kadandale, the Shree Subrahmanya Temple, Thokur, and the Shree Anantapadmanabha Temple, Manoor.

Tender coconuts, flowers and milk were in great demand across the region as they were being offered to the deities during the celebrations.