16/07/2025
Why do we kill Snakes?..
When we first thought about Ritu, the very first thing that came to mind was snakes. Even though we have sacred snake groves, I remember witnessing so many snakes being killed as a child. But as I grew up and found my voice, I started asking people to stop harming them. I didn’t know much about snakes back then, but one thing I was sure of — if we leave them alone and respect their space, they won’t harm us. They have every right to live here, just like we do.
My mom used to tell me a story from her college days — she was studying in a peaceful field where cows grazed. Suddenly, she heard a hiss behind her. When she turned, she saw a cobra. Instead of attacking, the cobra just wanted to pass and warned her with its hiss. She ran away, but the lesson stuck: snakes don’t attack unless threatened.One day, a spectacular cobra came near our house where we keep cows. We were all scared it might attack the cows, but we told each other, “Don’t panic — just give it space.” We stayed calm, and the cobra didn’t even spread its hood. It silently moved toward the sacred groves and disappeared. We never saw it again.
The moral? When you see snakes, keep your distance and give them space. Nowadays, we have better ways to communicate and people are trained to rescue snakes. So keep their contacts handy and call for help if you spot one!
It’s time to let go of myths and fears and start loving and respecting snakes. They play a vital role in our ecosystem.
At Ritu, we’re committed to sharing space with snakes and all creatures, recognizing their equal right to live here. We want to understand them better, protect them, and help bring back their populations — because we’ve seen their numbers decline sharply since our childhood.
Let’s pledge to protect these fascinating, misunderstood creatures so future generations can experience their beauty too..
This year's theme—“Respect, Don't Fear: Protecting Nature's Silent Guardians”
aryan .nambidi
