Hindu worship serpent god to mark Nag Panchami

People all across the country on Tuesday celebrated the Hindu festival of Nag Panchami worshipping the serpent god and goddess.

Devotees thronged religious places like Nag Daha, Tau Daha, Pashupatinath and Nag Pokhari in the Capital to worship the serpent god. Shiva temples were also favoured places for veneration as snakes are considered dear to him.

Nag Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of Shrawan (between July and August).

This is the time when serpents come out of their holes that get inundated with rainwaters to seek shelters, posing a danger to man. This is why snakes are worshiped on this day.

This festival that falls in the rainy season is believed to counter the increased possibility of snakebites during this time.

Meanwhile, people also paste the portraits of snakes using cow dung on the either side of the entrance to their houses to mark Nag Panchami.

source: The Kathmandu Post,24 July 2012