Shetpal: Place for humans and snakes

India is well-known for its rich cultural heritage as well as its mysteries. It may sound unusual, but a hamlet in Maharashtra has a unique custom in which the residents live under one roof with snakes without fear. Residents in Shetpal village not only worship snakes but also live beside them.

Children in the area are also not terrified of snakes because they were nurtured with venomous creatures; Image Source: Indoreetalk

It is well-known that snakes are sacred creatures in India due to their ancient origins and association with the Hindu deity Shiva. Thousands of devoted individuals in Indian villages worship and feed snakes every year during the Nag Panchami festival to gain divine benefits.

A place called Shetpal is located around 200 kilometres from Pune, Maharashtra, in the Solapur district. Cobra snakes have a permanent residence in every house in this community; they are venerated every day in every heart and home!

Shetpal, also known as Shetphal, is a hamlet in the Mohol taluka of the Solapur district of Maharashtra. The nearest town to Shetpal is Kurduvadi, which is around 22 kilometres away. It is the town for all its main commercial activity.

Shetpal is a community where snakes may walk freely and no one of the 2,600 or so residents ever harms them. Cobras are welcomed as family members in every home. Neither the cobras nor the inhabitants are afraid of one another.

This community has over 2600 residents, and no snakebite incidents have been documented. The residents mention that the reptiles are harmless, and anybody interested in snakes is welcome to visit this place. Visitors can provide the snakes with milk or eggs at any of the locals' homes.

In this community, every house has a snake. The reptilian creatures are all around town, and they're regarded as if they're family. Not only are the snakes worshipped, but they are also allowed a permanent home here. Like any other member of the family, snakes are allowed to roam the house. That is exactly what takes place in one's home. Like every other resident, these snakes are allowed to move around the village.

The villagers of Shetpal village are not afraid to coexist with snakes. Poisonous reptiles are welcome in every home and are allowed to explore the village. Snakes are considered pets by the locals of Shetpal village, and no one is terrified of them. The locals have constructed a separate area in their homes for the cobras, where they may come and stay at any time.

Even while building a new home, the people designate a specific space where snakes can go to be worshipped or fed milk. This particular area of the house is known as the devasthanam. The cobras have their spot in the house where they may come and cool down whenever they want. If someone in the village builds a new house, he ensures that a hollow piece of the structure is dedicated as a devasthanam for the snakes.

Due to their upbringing around these dangerous animals, local kids are also not afraid of snakes. The kids play with them and bring them to school. The snakes also freely traverse the community, and no one bothers them. Every year on Nag Panchami, the Hindu village people worship the snakes and feed them milk in exchange for their blessings.

Cobra snakes have a permanent residence in every house in this community; snakes are venerated every day in every heart and home; Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Idols of Snakes used to worship in houses, also in Nag Panchami; Image Source: NavarangIndia