On Nagara Panchami, devotees handle live scorpions in this village

On Monday, hundreds of devotees from Yadgir district, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh converged at Kandakur village in Gurumitkal taluk to take part in a unique Nagara Panchami tradition. Known as the "scorpion fair," this annual event, held at the Kondammai Temple, has been observed for nearly six decades.

Rather than the traditional act of offering milk to snake idols, devotees worshipped a stone idol of Goddess Kondammai, which bore a resemblance to a scorpion. After the ritualistic offering of milk, they searched for live scorpions beneath rocks on the hillock. Both men and women, as well as children and the elderly, handled the scorpions on their hands, shoulders, and faces during the ceremony.

Devotees firmly believe that scorpions make an appearance in large numbers on this specific day of the week and remain unthreatening due to the "divine protection" of Goddess Kondammai. Jayalaxmi, a visitor from Narayanpet, disclosed that she has been attending the festival almost every year with no fear of handling the creatures. The event, which once remained largely within the surrounding villages, has seen a surge in the number of devotees from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra in recent years.

Additionally, believers hold the belief that if one is stung by a scorpion during the festival, applying the sacred yellow powder from the Kondammai Temple, known as Bhandar, to the affected area can alleviate the pain. However, due to a few instances of scorpion stings during the festival over the past two years, the Kandakur Primary Health Centre established a temporary first-aid camp at the site.

The local gram panchayat also ensured that drinking water and basic facilities were available for those ascending the hillock.