Kolkata – As the ‘City of Joy’ braces itself for another year of relentless monsoon flooding, with streets turning into rivers and vehicles submerged ahead of Durga Puja festivities, one bizarre moment has captured the city’s imagination. A viral video showing a snake gliding through floodwaters with a freshly caught fish in its mouth has not only gone viral across social media but has also become a quirky cultural symbol of Kolkata’s resilience.
Floods Bring the City to a Halt
For weeks, heavy downpours have caused severe waterlogging in Kolkata, paralyzing transport systems, damaging property, and leaving thousands frustrated. Visuals of stalled cars, stranded commuters, and flooded homes have dominated news cycles. One clip even showed a luxury Rolls-Royce Ghost stuck helplessly in the rising waters, sparking conversations about the city’s crumbling drainage infrastructure.
Amid this bleak backdrop, the snake video has emerged as a rare silver lining — a humorous distraction that has quickly become an internet sensation.
The Viral Clip: A Snake with ‘Bengali Taste’
The 20-second clip, widely circulated on Instagram, Twitter, and WhatsApp, shows a Checkered Keelback snake (locally called Jol Dhora), confidently swimming through a flooded backyard while tightly gripping a fish in its mouth. The non-venomous water snake, commonly found in wetlands across Bengal, naturally feeds on fish and frogs.
But online viewers were quick to see more than biology at work. For millions of Bengalis, the sight of the snake securing its “catch of the day” was instantly relatable. After all, fish (maach) paired with rice (bhaat) is not just food in Bengal — it’s an emotion, a cultural identity, and the staple dish of everyday life.
Social Media Reacts: “Even Snakes Eat Maach-Bhaat!”
The video, first uploaded with the caption “Just Kolkata things,” amassed millions of views in less than 48 hours. The comments section quickly transformed into a playground of affectionate jokes:
- “Bro proved that he is Bengali.”
- “In Kolkata, even snakes eat maach-bhaat.”
- “‘Saanp enjoys maach bhaat!’ – new state slogan.”
The funniest part? Many users argued that the snake was simply doing what every Bengali dreams of during the monsoon: enjoying fresh fish. For netizens, it was less about the danger of encountering a snake and more about the cultural symbolism of maachh-bhaat surviving even the floods.
More Than a Meme: A Reflection of Bengali Identity
The humour struck a deep chord because food, particularly fish, is deeply tied to Bengali identity. From hilsa (ilish maach) in mustard curry to simple fried rohu (rui maach), fish dominates every household menu and festival feast. By anthropomorphizing the snake as a “true Bengali,” netizens turned a natural hunting scene into a cultural celebration.
This is not the first time Kolkata has leaned into humour to deal with adversity. During the pandemic, memes of hand sanitizers, masks, and even vaccine drives were infused with Bengali cultural quirks. The snake video, in many ways, continues this tradition of laughing through chaos.
Humour as a Coping Mechanism
Psychologists often describe humour as a vital coping mechanism during crises, and in Kolkata, this video has become a symbol of resilience. The city, known for its festivals, literature, and food, has always balanced hardship with humour.
The timing of the clip — arriving just weeks before Durga Puja, Bengal’s grandest festival — made it even more impactful. For residents facing flooded roads, power outages, and disrupted daily routines, the snake’s feast offered both a laugh and a reminder: life goes on, and so does maachh-bhaat.
Netizens Compare Two Viral Flood Clips
Interestingly, the snake clip gained traction around the same time as another viral flood video: a Rolls-Royce Ghost car stranded in waist-deep water in Kolkata. While the luxury car clip became a symbol of wealth versus infrastructure failure, the snake clip became a symbol of adaptability and humour. Together, they reflected Kolkata’s unique way of processing urban challenges — through irony, laughter, and cultural pride.
Expert Take: Nature Thrives Amid Human Struggles
Wildlife experts were quick to weigh in, clarifying that the Checkered Keelback is harmless to humans and plays an important role in the ecosystem by controlling fish and frog populations. Dr. Ranjit Sanyal, a herpetologist based in Kolkata, noted:
“What we’re seeing in the video is completely natural behavior. The snake is simply feeding. But the cultural interpretation shows how closely intertwined food, humour, and identity are in Bengal.”
From Meme to Movement?
Though born from humour, some environmentalists see a bigger lesson in the viral clip: nature finds ways to thrive even amid urban chaos. The image of the snake adapting to floodwaters could serve as a metaphor for the city itself, which continues to adapt — laughing, feasting, and celebrating despite adversity.
Conclusion
While Kolkata continues to grapple with serious flooding challenges, the viral “snake with fish” video has shown the world yet again why the city is called the City of Joy. Its people have a unique ability to find humour in hardship, transforming a reptile’s mealtime into a celebration of Bengali culture.
For now, amid clogged drains and waterlogged streets, Kolkata’s residents are choosing laughter — and sharing the message that whether human or snake, in Bengal, everyone loves their maachh-bhaat.
FAQs
Q1: What snake was seen in the viral Kolkata flood video?
A: The snake was identified as a Checkered Keelback (Jol Dhora in Bengali), a non-venomous water snake commonly found in wetlands across West Bengal.
Q2: Why did the video go viral in Kolkata?
A: Beyond the rare sight of a snake catching fish, the act resonated culturally. Fish (maach) is central to Bengali cuisine, and netizens jokingly called the snake a “true Bengali” for enjoying maachh-bhaat.
Q3: Is the Checkered Keelback dangerous to humans?
A: No, the Checkered Keelback is non-venomous and harmless to humans. It primarily feeds on fish and frogs.
Q4: How did residents react to the viral snake video?
A: Instead of fear, residents embraced humour. Social media was flooded with jokes and memes highlighting the cultural connection between Bengalis and fish.
Q5: What does the viral video symbolize about Kolkata?
A: The video symbolizes Kolkata’s resilience, humour, and cultural pride. Despite floods and hardships, the city finds ways to laugh, adapt, and celebrate its identity.
