Nagamandala – Udupi

Nagamandala is a periodical worship festival of the serpent stones which are very much revered in the South India

Nagamandala is a periodical worship festival of the serpent stones which are very much revered in the South India. As a part of the ritual, a representation of serpent spirit is made on the floor using powders of different colours. These colours are made from natural products like dried leaves, ochre, saffron powder, rice powder etc. Images of serpents with several hoods, typically of odd numbers like three, five, seven etc. with serpentine and wavy body movements, are enclosed in a circle. This representation is called as Mandala.

The ritual also consists a ballet like dance drama. The two important characters of this dance are the Nagapatri (Nagabrahma), who is said to be possessed by the serpent spirit and another person playing the role of serpent maiden called Nagakannike. The Nagapatri with his dishevelled hair, holds the areca flower in his hand with its rice like pollen sticking all over his face. The Nagakannike is dressed in a half-male, half-female robe. Also nagakannike holds a mini drum in his hand.