🐍✨ Nag Panchami 2025: The Serpent Worship Festival of India

_Shokesh _
Jul 23
3 min read

Celebrated with Devotion, Rituals & Divine Offerings

🌿 What is Nag Panchami?

Nag Panchami is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Nāgas (serpent deities), observed on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravan (July–August). It is one of the oldest festivals celebrated in India, signifying reverence towards snakes, who are believed to be powerful and divine beings in Hindu mythology.

Snakes, being associated with Lord Shiva, Vishnu, and Subterranean worlds (Patal Lok), are worshipped to seek protection from snake bites and to attain spiritual blessings.

🙏 Why is Nag Panchami Celebrated?

Nag Panchami is celebrated for several mythological and spiritual reasons:

Protection from Snake Bites: In agrarian communities, especially during the monsoon, snakes come out of their burrows. Worshipping them is believed to appease them and ensure protection.
Mythological Beliefs:
- Lord Krishna defeated Kaliya Naag on this day, liberating the Yamuna River.
- Mahabharata mentions that Janamejaya performed Sarp Satra (snake sacrifice) to avenge his father’s death due to Takshak Naag. The rituals of Nag Panchami are said to pacify the serpent race since then.
Symbol of Kundalini Shakti: In yogic philosophy, the coiled serpent (kundalini) represents spiritual awakening. Worshipping snakes symbolizes the awakening of divine energy.

🧘‍♀️ For Whom is Nag Panchami Celebrated?

This festival is primarily celebrated by:

Devotees of Lord Shiva and Vishnu
Women seeking prosperity, fertility, and protection of family
Farmers and rural communities who depend on nature and seek safety from venomous creatures
People with Kaal Sarp Dosh in their Kundli, who perform remedies for peace and relief

📍 Where is Nag Panchami Celebrated?

Nag Panchami is celebrated across India, with varying rituals and regional traditions:

🌾 North India:

Uttar Pradesh (Especially Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mathura): Snakes are worshipped in temples and clay idols are offered milk.
Punjab & Haryana: Women perform fasts and visit snake mounds or temples.

🌴 South India:

Karnataka (Bangalore, Mangalore): Celebrated with grandeur at Subramanya temples and homes.
Kerala & Tamil Nadu: People draw snake motifs (Nagakolam) and offer milk, flowers, and turmeric.

🌄 Central India:

Madhya Pradesh (Malwa, Bundelkhand, Bhopal): Clay snakes or real cobras are worshipped. Devotees visit Nag Mandirs with turmeric and cow’s milk.

⛰️ Maharashtra:

Worship of live snakes by Garudi community, snake charmers bring cobras for blessings.

🌏 Nepal:

Celebrated as Naag Panchami with rituals at the famous Nag Pokhari (Snake Pond) in Kathmandu.

🎉 Special Utsav and Rituals

🌼 Traditional Practices:

Drawing images of snakes on doors and walls with sandalwood paste.
Offering milk, honey, turmeric, rice, and flowers to live snakes or idols.
Women keep fasts (vrat) for their family’s safety and well-being.
Chanting mantras and reading the Nag Panchami Katha.

🛕 Major Utsavs and Celebrations:

Nagchandreshwar Temple, Ujjain (MP) opens only once a year on Nag Panchami.
Nagoba Temple in Telangana conducts a large tribal gathering.
Shree Sheshnag Mandirs in Maharashtra and Rajasthan hold huge fairs.
In Bengal, Manasa Devi (goddess of snakes) is specially worshipped.

🍚 What to Eat on Nag Panchami?

Devotees observe a vegetarian satvik diet. Popular foods include:

Kheer (Sweet Rice Pudding)
Puran Poli in Maharashtra
Thepla and Ladoo in Gujarat
Fried rice (Chivda-Poha) made without garlic or onion
Raw milk, curd, and jaggery offered before consumption
Many avoid digging soil, plowing fields, or cooking in earthen pots

💫 Importance of Celebrating Nag Panchami

Preserves ancient traditions and reverence for nature.
Teaches harmony with wildlife, especially serpents.
Promotes spirituality and cultural unity through shared practices.
Reminds us of the power of devotion and nature worship in Hinduism.

🛍️ Festival Essentials by SHOKESH & Rajazariwala

Celebrate Nag Panchami with premium Pujan Samagri from:

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📞 Contact: +91 8103601822

📩 Email: help.shokesh@gmail.com