SHOTLIST: SAMASTIPUR, BIHAR, INDIA (JULY 15, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF HINDUS PLAYING INSTRUMENTS, DANCING AND HOLDING SNAKES 2. VARIOUS OF HINDUS WORSHIPPING FOR THEIR GOD 3. VARIOUS OF HINDUS PLAYING INSTRUMENTS, DANCING AND HOLDING SNAKES AS THEY MARCH SAMASTIPUR, BIHAR, INDIA - JULY 15: Thousands of Hindu devotees in the eastern Indian state of Bihar marked the traditional festival of Nag Panchami on Tuesday, July 15, by worshipping snakes in a centuries-old ritual rooted in local mythology and seasonal customs. In Samastipur, worshippers carried out vibrant processions, dancing with live snakes draped around their necks, arms, and hands. The festival, observed annually on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravan, coincides with India’s monsoon season and holds deep religious significance. On this day, many devotees fast and offer milk to snakes, believing it brings good fortune and helps ward off misfortunes. As part of the customs, ploughing or digging the soil is also avoided to prevent harming the serpents believed to dwell underground. Nag Panchami is celebrated across India as a mark of respect for serpents, which hold symbolic and spiritual value in Hindu mythology. Reporting by Sandeep Kumar // Writing by Mustafa Tuncer