Quiet Nag Panchami celebrations this year

Nag Panchami which was celebrated on Saturday, has always been special for Goans. Families would participate in the festivities together, while also relishing tasty delicacies like patoleos. But due to the

ongoing pandemic

, Nag
Panchami was a quiet affair this year. “We didn’t have cousins come over for celebrations and the excitement was not as much as other years. Usually, with our extended family visiting, we would have a variety of dishes, but this year the menu was small. My folks prepared Varan Bath, Masale Bath, Patoleos and

Moogachi Ghati

,” says actor Salil Naik from

Panaji

.

Manisha Desai from Margao couldn't visit her family in Vasco due to the scare of the pandemic. "Due to the increasing cases in Vasco, I decided not to visit home. It was special for me because I got married in November 2019 and this is my first after marriage. But the good thing is that I celebrated with my new family."

Devotees also visited the shrine dedicated to the

snake

deity in Taleigao where they offered prayers.