---
title: "Scorpion-handling Nagara Panchami draws hundreds in Kandakur village"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/scorpion-panchami-kandakur-village-ujioi
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Society
published: 2026-08-17T17:30:30.332Z
modified: 2026-08-17T19:30:07.759Z
language: en-IN
---

# Scorpion-handling Nagara Panchami draws hundreds in Kandakur village

Hundreds attend the scorpion fair at Kondammai Temple in Kandakur village during Nagara Panchami, worshipping a stone idol and handling live scorpions under a ritual believed to offer divine protection. A temporary first-aid camp and basic facilities were arranged due to occasional stings.

## Key takeaways

- A six-decade-old scorpion fair accompanies Nagara Panchami at Kandakur temple.
- Devotees worship a stone idol resembling a scorpion and handle live scorpions as part of the ritual.
- Visitors come from Yadgir district and neighbouring Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
- A temporary first-aid camp was established due to past sting incidents.

## What Happened

The annual Nagara Panchami observance at Kandakur village in Gurumitkal taluk attracted hundreds of devotees from Yadgir district and nearby regions in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The event centers on a long-standing tradition called the scorpion fair, held at the hillock where the Kondammai Temple sits. Worshippers offered prayers and milk at the shrine, then searched for scorpions beneath rocks and placed the creatures on hands, shoulders or faces as part of the rite. The ceremony features a stone idol of Goddess Kondammai that resembles a scorpion, rather than the usual snake idols associated with Nagara Panchami.

Participants include women, children and elders, with the festival increasingly drawing attendees from beyond the surrounding villages in recent years. The belief held by devotees is that scorpions emerge in large numbers on Nagara Panchami but do not sting due to the goddess’s perceived divine protection. In addition to the ritual, the community has made practical arrangements to support attendees, including drinking water and basic facilities for climbers of the hillock.

Health authorities adapted to the event by establishing a temporary first-aid camp at the venue after a few sting incidents occurred over the past two years.

## Why It Matters

The event illustrates how regional religious practices sustain long-running local traditions and attract broader participation. Safety measures and health provisions were introduced in response to sting incidents, showing a responsive adaptation by local authorities to a cultural festival that involves handling live animals.

## Background

Nagara Panchami is observed in parts of India with various local customs. In Kandakur, the scorpion fair at the Kondammai Temple has been held for nearly six decades, according to the report. The hillock setting and the stone idol of Goddess Kondammai shape the distinctive form of worship here, contrasting with other Nagara Panchami rites that involve milk offerings to snake idols.

## Key Facts

- The scorpion fair occurs at the Kondammai Temple hillock in Kandakur village, Gurumitkal taluk.
- Devotees from Yadgir district and nearby areas in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh attended the event.
- The ritual involves finding scorpions beneath rocks and placing them on body parts as part of worship.
- The temple uses a stone idol resembling a scorpion for the ritual, not a snake idol.
- Devotees believe scorpions do not sting during the festival due to divine protection.
- A temporary first-aid camp was set up by Kandakur Primary Health Centre after sting incidents in recent years.
- Local authorities provided drinking water and basic facilities for attendees climbing the hillock.
- The festival has been observed for nearly six decades and has drawn growing regional attention in recent years.

## What Happens Next

The article notes continued attendance from multiple states and ongoing tradition, with health measures already established to handle potential stings. No specific future dates or scheduled changes to the ritual were documented.

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/scorpion-panchami-kandakur-village-ujioi
Reported from: Multiple Sources