Nag Panchami – Shubh Tithee

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Essential Rituals & Puja Steps

Step 1: Altar Setup: Drawing representations of snakes on the home entrance using clay or sand.
Step 2: Offering Milk: Bathing snake idols with milk, water, and honey, and offering kheer.
Step 3: Avoiding digging: Refraining from digging or plowing fields on this day to avoid hurting snakes.
Step 4: Aarti and Prayers: Reciting standard protective prayers and seeking safety for the family from snake bites.

History & Significance

Nag Panchami is a traditional worship of snakes or serpents observed on the fifth day of the bright half of Shravan month. In Hindu culture, snakes are considered sacred and associated with major deities, especially Lord Shiva (who wears a snake around his neck) and Lord Vishnu (who rests on Sheshanaga). According to Mahabharata, on this day, Lord Krishna defeated the venomous snake Kaliya in the Yamuna river, saving the residents of Vrindavan. The festival celebrates ecological balance and co-existence with nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is milk offered to snakes on Nag Panchami?

Offering milk to snake deities is a symbolic act of seeking protection and expressing gratitude to Sheshanaga and the serpent kingdom for ecological balance.

What should be avoided on Nag Panchami?

Plowing, digging, and burning soil are traditionally avoided on Nag Panchami to ensure no harm comes to snakes residing underground.