Naag Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes observed by Hindus throughout Nepal, India and other countries where Hindu adherents live. It falls on the Panchami of Shravan Shuklapaksh or on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana, according to the Hindu calendar.
it is believed that the worship of the snake on this day actually reaches the snake deity. In the Baidik philosophy, there are 12 snakes present, which are Ananta, Basuki, Shes, Padym, Kambala, Karkotaka, Asbhatara, Dhitrastra, Sankapala, Kaliya, Takshaka and Pingala and all of these are worshiped on Naag Panchami.
These snakes picture are taken by Brahmin priests and is stuck on the door with Cow dung and worshiped with red tika and dubo. It is believed that a picture of a snake pasted on a door or main pole protects it throughout the year. It is customary for the priests to bring and paste such pictures for protection. and the Priests are provided with fruits and money by the House landlord.
The real historical roots of Nag Panchami are found to be connected with the Mahabharata. The king named Parikshit is bitten by a snake named Taksha and dies. His son Janmajaya started killing all the snakes in the world to avenge his father’s death and for this, he started Mahayagya in which he invited Siddha sages, monks, and Pandits.
Such a powerful fire is ignited in the Havan Kunda of the Yagya that all the snakes except Taksha are consumed there, but even the Taksha who reached the shelter of Indra in heaven gradually reach the Janmajaya with King Indra due to the increasing effect of the Yagya. Immediately after Manasdevi’s son, Astika apologized to Janmajaya, he postponed the Yagya. All the snakes died in the sacrifice have since been resurrected on the day of Naag Panchami.
On this day, milk, sweets, flowers, and lava (ie fried paddy) are offered for the worship of the snake deity. Since it is usually scary and risky to worship with a snake in front of it, the snake deity is worshiped on an idol, wood, or picture on this Festival.
