This Dhurug season is cold and windy, around September to October
Dharug people have a strong spiritual link to maliya (the diamond python).
Audio transcript
Dugara Guwara.
Dugara means 'cold'.
Guwara means 'windy' in the Dharug dalang or Dharug language.
The Diamond python, maliya, is often seen on Dharug Ngurra (or Dharug Country).
During the day, maliya may be seen basking in trees or along our walking paths. Although they are non-venomous, please be careful where you step.
For Aboriginal people the diamond pattern is a very important symbol and shape.
For this reason, the diamond pattern on these snakes shows the sacredness of these reptiles.
Across Australia many Aboriginal people have creation stories around snakes.
The Dharug people too have a strong spiritual link to these reptiles through our kinship and our totem systems, which help to identify our roles and responsibilities to each other and to our environment.