Nag Panchami

About

Nag Panchami is the festival of serpent worship. It is observed on Shravana Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of Shravana, in most regions. Because it falls in the Shukla paksha, the date is the same in the Purnimanta and Amanta calendars. In Gujarat, which follows the Amanta calendar, the festival is kept on Shravana Krishna Panchami, roughly a fortnight later by North Indian reckoning (Bhadrapada Krishna Panchami in Purnimanta naming), and some sources report a Krishna paksha date in parts of Rajasthan as well. Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

The monsoon is when snakes leave flooded burrows and meet people more often. The festival grew from respect for these creatures, who also protect farm grain by hunting rats. Serpents are linked with Lord Shiva, who wears Vasuki around his neck, and with Lord Vishnu, who rests on Shesha.

Significance and stories

Several stories are told. One describes Lord Krishna subduing the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna and sending him away peacefully. Another tells of King Janamejaya, who held a great sacrifice to destroy snakes after his father Parikshit died of a snakebite. The sage Astika stopped the sacrifice on Panchami and saved the serpents, which is why the day is sacred.

Lists of nagas used in worship vary, but commonly include Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Kambala, Karkotaka, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya. The festival teaches respect for all life and for the balance of nature. It is not a day to harm snakes or to try handling them.

How to observe (puja vidhi)

1. Rise early, bathe and wear clean clothes. Clean the front of the house.
2. Draw or place an image of a serpent on a wall, board or plate. Many families use clay, turmeric paste or silver images.
3. Take a sankalpa (intention) to worship the nagas.
4. Offer milk, rice, turmeric, kumkum, flowers and a lamp to the image.
5. Chant the names of the nagas or a mantra such as "ॐ नमः शिवाय" (om namah shivaya) or a Naga mantra. Ask a priest or elder to guide pronunciation.
6. Read or listen to the Nag Panchami katha.
7. Offer parched rice (laja), jaggery or sweets as prasad.
8. Visit a Shiva or Naga temple, or an anthill shrine where this is the custom.
9. Share the prasad with family and neighbours.

Puja items (samagri)

• Image of a serpent, drawn, clay or silver
• Milk, honey, water, rice, parched rice (laja)
• Turmeric, kumkum, sandalwood
• Flowers, bilva leaves, durva grass
• Incense, a lamp, camphor
• Sweets such as tambittu, ladoo or other regional sweets

Fasting and food

Many devotees fast until the puja is done and eat a simple vegetarian meal afterward. A common custom is to avoid cutting, frying or digging with iron implements on the day, so many families eat cold or pre-cooked food. Traditions differ. People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter fast.

Regional customs

In Maharashtra, the festival is called Nag Panchami and women worship an anthill and sing songs. In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, devotees offer milk at anthill shrines and Nagaraja temples. In Kerala, serpent worship centres on sacred groves called sarpa kavu, often on other days such as Ayilyam. In Bengal and Odisha, the goddess Manasa is worshipped. In North India, snakes are drawn on the doorstep with cow dung or paste. Some places hold a fair. Customs vary widely.

Celebrating in the USA

You do not need a live snake or an anthill. A picture or silver image of a serpent, a small bowl of milk and a lamp make a complete puja at home. Parched rice and jaggery are easy to arrange. Many Shiva and South Indian temples hold a Naga puja. Do not offer milk or food outdoors to wildlife, as it is harmful to animals and may be against local rules. After the puja, the milk can be used in cooking or given to the plants as appropriate. If you live in a snake-prone area, be careful and keep a distance from wild snakes.