Nag Panchami being observed across the nation

Nag Panchami festival is being observed across the nation on Friday.The festival falls on the fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar calendar.

On the occasion, pictures of snakes containing mantras are pasted above the entrance of the house with a belief that doing so will keep snakes away from home.People worship serpent god by offering dubo grass, milk and the paste of rice grains, red vermillion powder and yoghurt.

Hindu devotees throughout the nation are thronging temples of Nags since early morning.

Nag Pokhari, Taudaha of Kathmandu, Nagdaha of Lalitpur and Siddhapokhari of Bhaktapur are some of the famous shrines for the devotees in the Kathmandu Valley.

On this day digging the earth is taboo as it could kill or harm snakes which reside in the earth.

There are many myths prevailing in the Nepali society regarding the Nag Panchami festival.

According to the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna defeated Nag Kalia, an evil serpent on the day of Shrawan Panchami.

source: the himalayan times,1 august 2014
photo: A Hindu devotee pouring milk on the statue of Naga (snake god) to mark Nagpanchami festival at Nagpokhari in Kathmandu on Friday‚ August 01 2014. PHOTO: Bal Krishna Thapa /The Himalayan times