Maharashtra’s Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has called for reviving the traditional worship of live cobras during the Nag Panchami festival—a practice halted in Battis Shirala after the Bombay High Court banned it in 2002 over reptile welfare concerns . He stated he will urge the central government to persuade the courts to permit the practice again, citing legal precedents such as the reinstatement of Jallikattu and ceremonial use of elephants . A meeting is scheduled on July 7–8 with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. BJP MLA Satyajit Deshmukh, supported by other MLAs, pointed out the historical and cultural significance of serpent worship in school textbooks and argued devotees capture cobras only to worship and release them unharmed . Naik assured that if the ban is lifted, the government will ensure no harm comes to the reptiles during the festival .

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