Amid Kolkata’s Flood Chaos, A Snake’s Feast Sparks Hilarious Viral Moment

Kolkata, the ‘City of Joy,’ is once again grappling with severe waterlogging following relentless monsoon downpours, transforming streets into turbulent rivers and disrupting daily life just ahead of the grand Durga Puja festival. While the reality of urban flooding remains grim—with cars stalled and homes submerged—a bizarre yet deeply symbolic viral video has offered a moment of comic relief and cultural pride to the city’s resilient residents.

The clip, which has been shared widely across social media platforms like Instagram, captures a truly unusual sight: a snake confidently swimming through a flooded backyard while firmly clutching a freshly caught fish in its mouth. Far from being a terrifying moment, the scene was immediately embraced by netizens for its uncanny humor, quickly turning the reptile’s natural behavior into a perfect ‘Kolkata moment.’

The ‘Bengali’ Snake

Shared originally with the caption, “Just Kolkata things,” the video quickly racked up millions of views, with the sight of a snake securing its meal amidst the chaos resonating with the city’s distinct culture. Experts identified the snake as a Checkered Keelback (Jol Dhora in Bengali), a non-venomous water snake commonly found in wetlands, which naturally feeds on fish and frogs.

However, for the internet, the snake’s choice of meal was not just a biological fact—it was a cultural statement. Fish, or Maach, is the cornerstone of Bengali cuisine and culture, often eaten with rice (Bhaat) to form the staple Maachh Bhaat.

This cultural connection fueled a wave of hilarious and affectionate reactions online. Users quipped that the snake had simply proven its ‘Bengali’ credentials. Comments poured in, with one user joking, “Bro proved that he is Bengali,” while another declared, “In Kolkata, even snakes eat maachh-bhaat.” The most popular punchline, echoing the collective humor, was the phrase, “‘Saanp enjoys maach bhaat!’ (Snake enjoys fish and rice), turning an ordinary act of predation into a celebration of the state’s favourite dish.

Humour as a Coping Mechanism

The timing of the video, appearing just as the city prepares for the massive Durga Puja celebrations, only added to its impact. For many, the sight of life—even reptilian life—thriving and securing its necessities despite the severe waterlogging, served as a poignant reminder of the city’s spirit and its ability to find lightness in hardship.

While the floods have caused serious disruption, including a viral clip of an expensive Rolls-Royce Ghost stranded in the water, the snake video offered a brief but potent escape. It illustrates how humour remains a vital coping mechanism for the people of Kolkata, transforming a potentially dangerous natural phenomenon into a shared cultural joke and a symbol of their enduring, Maachh-Bhaat-loving resilience.