Nag Panchami

On this day, pictures of snakes containing mantras are pasted on the entrance with a belief that this keeps snakes away from home. The mantras make mention of eight principal nags, namely Ananta, Vashuki, Padhmanavha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhartarashtra, Takshyaka, and Kaliya. People also offer milk to the serpents on this day.

They worship the pictures by offering cow’s milk, lava, barley, sesame, nuts and other religious items. Men donning demon masquerade dance on the streets as part of the ceremony.

There’s a belief that snakes should be offered food items such as milk and honey on this day to make them happy. When happy, snakes are believed to bestow plenty of rain, which is good for crops.

Scriptures regard nags as harbingers of rain. There’s a belief that observing Nag Panchami is an effective way to make the serpents happy and ensure good health and prosperity. On the contrary, if nags become angry, people fall ill and no amount of medication can restore their health.

Legends have it that Kadru, the wife of sage Kashyap, is the mother of the serpents.

The eight nags are regarded as the rulers of Patal lok, the netherworld. They figure prominently in Hindu mythologies.

According to the Mahabharata, on the day of Shrawan Panchami, Lord Krishna defeated Nag Kalia, an evil serpent. People believe that Nag Panchami celebrates this occasion.

Another legend has it that the Kathmandu Valley was a big lake once. When humans drained the lake for their livelihood, nags became angry. To protect themselves from the nags, people offered to worship the serpents on a certain date in their habitats.

According to another story, a farmer, while ploughing his field, happened to kill some serpents. The mother of these creatures took her revenge by stinging and killing all family members of the farmer except for one daughter, who was offering prayers to the nags. This act of devotion is said to have revived the dead family members. And the Nag Panchami is observed to mark this occasion. On this day, cultivation is prohibited.

Worshippers assemble at different shrines to mark the festival. Fares are organised in many places. On this day, married women visit their maternal homes.

The festival falls on the dark half in the month of Shrawan.

Places to Observe:
Nagpokhari, Naxal, Kathmandu & throughout the country