Naga Panchami Festival In India

The Festival of the Naga Panchami is the festival of Snakes and this festival celebrated in India on the fifth day of moonlit fortnight in the month of shravan into the Hindu calendar. Naga Panchami is celebrated in most of the parts of the country like in Bengal, Kerala (Southern part), Gujarat and Maharashtra. This festival falls in monsoon season, because during this season snakes come out of their holes and to seek shelter in gardens and many times in houses.

The people worship Naga Devata with flowers and milk. People offer milk during Nag Panchami to snake god. It is believed that snakes like milk so people offer milk to them and pray to Naga Devata to save their family members from snake bite. Nagas are worshipped in Hindu religion and snakes are always depicted with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, two of the most popular Gods in Hinduism.

The main importance Naga Panchami is to show us that Nagas were not usual snake but the kings with immense power. The prominent Cobra snakes mentioned in the Puranas are Anant, Vasuki, Shesh, Padma, Kanwal, Karkotak, Kalia, Aswatar, Takshak, Sankhpal, Dhritarashtra and Pingal. The festival is celebrated with much fervor by all, especially women.

Hindus believe in the immortality of the snake because of its habit of sloughing its skin. It is on this couch that the Lord reclines between the time of the dissolution of one Universe and creation of another. Naga Panchami is observed in different ways in different parts of India. Read more about Naga Panchami Festival Here.