Shirala - Revision history

ZaidBaig: correct article as per guidelines additionally and updated info after review

2025-09-15T14:41:08Z

correct article as per guidelines additionally and updated info after review

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:11, 15 September 2025
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	\| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency		\| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
	\| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Shirala (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]]		\| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Shirala (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]]
	~~\| Nearest Computer Office = San Computers (Sandeep Mule)~~
	\| footnotes =		\| footnotes =
	}}		}}
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	[[File:Naag Panchami.jpg\|thumb\|King Cobra being worshiped during Shirala Naag Panchami]]		[[File:Naag Panchami.jpg\|thumb\|King Cobra being worshiped during Shirala Naag Panchami]]

	'''Shirala''' also called '''Battis [32] Shirala''' is a ~~small~~ town and tehsil in [[Sangli District]], [[India]], away 60 kilometres west of the [[district]] headquarters, [[Sangli]] and about 350 kilometres from [[Mumbai]], [[Capital (political)\|capital]] of [[Maharashtra]] [[States of India\|state]]. It is particularly known for its Hindu festival of the snake god.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web \| title =Face to face with the holy cobras \| work =During the Hindu festival of the snake god, farmers capture cobras from their fields and let villagers shower them with offerings. They believe it will bring good fortune for next year. Jeremy Grange joined some of them in Shirala, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. \| publisher =BBC News \| date = 4 October 2007 \| url =~~http~~://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7017971.stm \| format =web \| ~~accessdate~~ = 2008-01-23 }}</ref>		'''Shirala''' also called '''Battis [32] Shirala''' is a town and tehsil in [[Sangli District]], [[India]], away 60 kilometres west of the [[district]] headquarters, [[Sangli]] and about 350 kilometres from [[Mumbai]], [[Capital (political)\|capital]] of [[Maharashtra]] [[States of India\|state]]. It is particularly known for its Hindu festival of the snake god.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web \| title =Face to face with the holy cobras \| work =During the Hindu festival of the snake god, farmers capture cobras from their fields and let villagers shower them with offerings. They believe it will bring good fortune for next year. Jeremy Grange joined some of them in Shirala, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. \| publisher =BBC News \| date = 4 October 2007 \| url =https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7017971.stm \| format =web \| access-date = 2008-01-23 }}</ref>

	==History==		==History==
	Shirala is a ~~small~~ town located in western [[Maharashtra]], India's most prosperous state.		Shirala is a town located in western [[Maharashtra]], India's most prosperous state.
	During the [[Rashtrakuta]] period the region was ruled by [[Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra\|Shilaharas]]. (from 765 to 1020)		During the [[Rashtrakuta]] period the region was ruled by [[Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra\|Shilaharas]]. (from 765 to 1020)

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	Shirala comes from word "[[Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra\|Shilahara]]".The prefix ‘battis’ is the number thirty-two (32). It is said that thirty-two small villages surround this larger town. Historically, Battis Shirala has been major market.		Shirala comes from word "[[Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra\|Shilahara]]".The prefix ‘battis’ is the number thirty-two (32). It is said that thirty-two small villages surround this larger town. Historically, Battis Shirala has been major market.

	==Local ~~Economy~~==		==Local economy==
	The major source of income for people in this town is from agriculture. Since this place is capital of tehsil or taluka, large numbers of people are employed in various government offices, schools, colleges, banks, hospitals and other service industry. A couple of agriculture-based industries (sugar and starch) also contribute to the town’s economy. Water supply for drinking and agricultural purposes is available from [[Morna Dam, Shirala]] located 5 kilometres from town. The tehsil has large area under thick forests due to heavy monsoon rains. It provides patronage to variety of wild life in ‘Chandoli abhay-aranya', a national forest.		The major source of income for people in this town is from agriculture. Since this place is capital of tehsil or taluka, large numbers of people are employed in various government offices, schools, colleges, banks, hospitals and other service industry. A couple of agriculture-based industries (sugar and starch) also contribute to the town’s economy. Water supply for drinking and agricultural purposes is available from [[Morna Dam, Shirala]] located 5 kilometres from town. The tehsil has large area under thick forests due to heavy monsoon rains. It provides patronage to variety of wild life in ‘Chandoli abhay-aranya', a national forest.

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	Myth is one of the families in Shirala use to worship snake murti.		Myth is one of the families in Shirala use to worship snake murti.
	When one of the Navnatha ([[Gorakhnath]]) visited their place, he gave them permission and blessing to catch actual snake and worship it. Shirala ~~also~~ has Gorkhnath Temple. Once in 12 years all the followers of Nath panti ([[Nath Sampradaya]]) visit Shirala and leave one of them behind to take care of this temple for the next 12 years.		When one of the Navnatha ([[Gorakhnath]]) visited their place, he gave them permission and blessing to catch actual snake and worship it. Shirala has Gorkhnath Temple. Once in 12 years all the followers of Nath panti ([[Nath Sampradaya]]) visit Shirala and leave one of them behind to take care of this temple for the next 12 years.

	Shirala is ~~also~~ famous for one of the eleven Maruti temples built by Marathi saint [[Samarth Ramdas]]. This 17th-century temple is located about 200 feet away from main bus station of the town and is visited by many devotees on Saturdays. The town ~~also~~ has a fort build by great [[Maratha]] warrior, [[Shivaji]]. Currently, it is maintained by forest services office of town.		Shirala is famous for one of the eleven Maruti temples built by Marathi saint [[Samarth Ramdas]]. This 17th-century temple is located about 200 feet away from main bus station of the town and is visited by many devotees on Saturdays. The town has a fort build by great [[Maratha]] warrior, Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]]. Currently, it is maintained by forest services office of town.

	==References==		==References==

->Mk17b: Undid revision 1056270902 by Omkarp8352 (talk) No sources - and def. doesn't belong in lead.

2021-11-24T05:29:00Z

Undid revision 1056270902 by Omkarp8352 (talk) No sources - and def. doesn't belong in lead.

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2008}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Shirala
| other_name = Battis Shirala
| nickname = Battis Shirala
| settlement_type = town
| image_skyline = Shirala Police Station.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Republic day parade at Shirala Police Station
| pushpin_map = India Maharashtra
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Maharashtra, India
| coordinates = {{coord|16.984011|N|74.124151|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Sangli district|Sangli]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 594
| population_total = 28000
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/16/Shirala2.html Retrieved 9 September 2009]</ref>
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 415408
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 02345
| registration_plate = MH 10
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = Kolhapur, [[Uran Islampur]], [[Sangli]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = [[Lok Sabha]] constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = Hatkanangle
| blank3_name_sec1 = [[Vidhan Sabha]] constituency
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Shirala (Vidhan Sabha constituency)]]
| Nearest Computer Office = San Computers (Sandeep Mule)
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Morana Dam.jpg|thumb|right|Morana Dam near Shirala]]
[[File:Panoramic View of Shirala on a Monsoon Day.jpg|thumb|right|Panoramic East Shirala on a Monsoon day]]
[[File:Naag Panchami.jpg|thumb|King Cobra being worshiped during Shirala Naag Panchami]]

'''Shirala''' also called '''Battis [32] Shirala''' is a small town and tehsil in [[Sangli District]], [[India]], away 60 kilometres west of the [[district]] headquarters, [[Sangli]] and about 350 kilometres from [[Mumbai]], [[Capital (political)|capital]] of [[Maharashtra]] [[States of India|state]]. It is particularly known for its Hindu festival of the snake god.<ref name="BBC">{{cite web | title =Face to face with the holy cobras | work =During the Hindu festival of the snake god, farmers capture cobras from their fields and let villagers shower them with offerings. They believe it will bring good fortune for next year. Jeremy Grange joined some of them in Shirala, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. | publisher =BBC News | date = 4 October 2007 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7017971.stm | format =web | accessdate = 2008-01-23 }}</ref>

==History==
Shirala is a small town located in western [[Maharashtra]], India's most prosperous state.
During the [[Rashtrakuta]] period the region was ruled by [[Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra|Shilaharas]]. (from 765 to 1020)

==The name==
Shirala comes from word "[[Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra|Shilahara]]".The prefix ‘battis’ is the number thirty-two (32). It is said that thirty-two small villages surround this larger town. Historically, Battis Shirala has been major market.

==Local Economy==
The major source of income for people in this town is from agriculture. Since this place is capital of tehsil or taluka, large numbers of people are employed in various government offices, schools, colleges, banks, hospitals and other service industry. A couple of agriculture-based industries (sugar and starch) also contribute to the town’s economy. Water supply for drinking and agricultural purposes is available from [[Morna Dam, Shirala]] located 5 kilometres from town. The tehsil has large area under thick forests due to heavy monsoon rains. It provides patronage to variety of wild life in ‘Chandoli abhay-aranya', a national forest.

The town holds weekly farmers market on every Monday (aka "Monday Bajar"). Farmers and small vendors from the area put up temporary tents on small streets of town for the entire day. Fresh vegetables, meat, fish and other goods including clothing are sold in this market.

Recently, a dozen of small-scale agro-industries have been set in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area near Shirala. With special economic concessions offered due to remoteness of the area, the MIDC has attracted number of investors in relatively short time.

==Transportation==

Shirala is about 350 km. from [[Mumbai]]. State transport and private buses daily run between Mumbai and Shirala. [[Kolhapur]] is the nearest city, which is 60 km. away. Kolhapur is connected to Mumbai through daily trains.

Pune is connected to all major Indian cities through daily flights and trains. If you are visiting Shirala for Naag Panchami (Snake festival) only, a day trip from Pune is possible.

==Noted annual festival==
Recently court has banned catching of snakes due to animal (snake) abuse cases as rough handling of snakes can result in their death.
Battis Shirala is famous for its annual [[Nag Panchami]] [[Snake festival]], which is attended by hundreds of thousands people.

In shirala, a day approximately two weeks before the festival, farmers clean their cows and bulls, decorate them and feed them with special food; villagers go snake-hunting, after getting kaul (permission) from Goddess Amba Bai by placing a flower on her head. If the flower falls, voluntarily on left side then that family is not allowed to catch snake that year. It is believed that only natives of Shirala are allowed to catch the snakes. Snakes (including the venomous Indian [[King Cobra]]) are tracked by their body marks in the soil. The ground is dug up carefully and the snakes are captured in such manner that they should not get hurt. A lot of care is taken so that snakes are not hurt as if they are hurt it is considered as a bad thing for that family. Hundreds of hours of searching produces seven or eight snakes per group if they are lucky. These snakes are then stored in a big circular earthen<ref>[http://www.musicoutfitters.com/ethnic/ghatam.htm Jug Drums (Ghatams and Matkas)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112163118/http://www.musicoutfitters.com/ethnic/ghatam.htm |date=2008-01-12 }}</ref> pot with a smaller circular earthen pot placed on the top opening. Finally a cloth is used to cover the top and is tied with a rope. These pots are usually hung outside house. Every morning till the actual festival, these snakes are taken out of their earthen pots and fed with a rat or frog. This feeding is called Dav Pajane or feeding dew to a snake.

On the day of festival, the snakes are displayed in a huge procession. The procession begins with the blessings of the village goddess Amba-bai. 70 to 80 groups and organisations take part in this procession. In the morning before the procession snakes are taken to few neighboring homes so that women in those homes can worship the snakes.
The snakes that were caught before the festival, are released at the same place from which they were caught.

Myth is one of the families in Shirala use to worship snake murti.
When one of the Navnatha ([[Gorakhnath]]) visited their place, he gave them permission and blessing to catch actual snake and worship it. Shirala also has Gorkhnath Temple. Once in 12 years all the followers of Nath panti ([[Nath Sampradaya]]) visit Shirala and leave one of them behind to take care of this temple for the next 12 years.

Shirala is also famous for one of the eleven Maruti temples built by Marathi saint [[Samarth Ramdas]]. This 17th-century temple is located about 200 feet away from main bus station of the town and is visited by many devotees on Saturdays. The town also has a fort build by great [[Maratha]] warrior, [[Shivaji]]. Currently, it is maintained by forest services office of town.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Sangli district topics}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Sangli district]]
[[Category:Talukas in Maharashtra]]