Naag Panchami

Nag Panchami is an important Hindu festival celebrated in some parts of India which involves worship of snakes considered as Nagdevta. In some parts, Hindu devotees offer ritualistic prayers to live Nāgas (cobras) in most of the places, the worship is done to Naga images. The day of celebration falls as per Hindu Lunar calendar on the fifth day following Amavasya, the New Moon day, of the month of Shraavana.  As per tradition, married young women return to their parents’ home to celebrate this ritual as a festival.  In many villages, the celebration includes women folk swinging on swings made of cloth or other material hung on tree branches.

History

Hindu Mythology conveys that Brahma’s son Kashyap had children through his four wives, who were Devas, Asuras, Garudas and Nagas. Among them Nagas were assigned to rule the Patal-Loka, the universe underground.

There are different stories concerning Naga Panchami. According to one scripture, the day when Lord Krishna put an end to the evil deeds of Naga Kalia, by dancing over his head, is observed as Naga Panchami.

Another school believes that Nagas were offended when the vast lake at Kathmandu was drained for human settlement, the place was their home, and to appease them Nagas were worshiped besides nominating certain places of Nagas as pilgrimage destinations in that region.

Some of the scriptures say that Nagas were to control the rains, when a king used his Tantric powers to get them to his land to pour rains; he recognized their importance and established the festival of Naga Panchami.

Besides Hindus, those following Buddhist and Jain faiths have lot of respect for Nagas, considering them as ones having divine qualities, on the belief that a Cobra snake was helpful to save Buddha, likewise another snake saved the life of Jain Muni Parshwanath.

Celebrations & Rituals

Nepalese people observe Naga Panchami by traditionally installing figures of Nagas on the front doors of their homes which they believe will ward off evil spirits, besides offering prayers to Nagas. Their worship rituals include offering food items such as milk and honey by placing them in their fields for the Nagas to consume. The festival part includes street dances by men wearing demon masks, which they consider as part of rituals. Nepal Hindus have their own legend which mostly goes as an acknowledgement and appeasement ceremony for Nagas.

It is during Nag Panchami festival that siblings of a family get together and observe celebrations for the benefit of their family's well-being.

On Nag Panchami day, married women and girls of the family rise early in the morning, take their bath, make preparations for puja and visit the nearest ant hill, where snakes dwell.  They perform traditional puja ritual to the snake's home, praying the Snake God for their family welfare. This day is more or less similar to Raksha Bandhan ritual observed throughout the country. If no ant hill is approachable nearby, they offer puja to the Naga (snake) idols erected in nearby temples. The milk offered at puja is taken back home as Prasad, the blessing of God.

Sisters invite their brothers to visit their homes, apply the worshiped milk with a flower on their body, and show them traditional aarti, besides. They then immerse a flower in the leftover milk and apply it on their brothers' back, perform aarti, and present the visiting brothers with gifts.

In the homes of some parts of India , Sweets like Kadubu (Kannada items), which is also called  Kudumulu(Telugu) and Nuchununde(Kannada) also called Kanduntalu(Telugu) are offered to Lord Krishna, which are then distributed as Prasad to worshipers.

Significance of the Naga Panchami festival thus mainly goes with pleasing the Nag Devta, who is normally depicted in the form of a Snake either with a single hood or with five hoods, as one may observe that every Hindu temple, mostly in the South, there will be a part where the Idol of a Snake is installed, enabling devotees to offer milk and other puja items to that shrine. There are exclusive temples for Naga, the serpent God, who is also worshiped as embodiment of two astrological characters Rahu and Ketu, the two moon’s nodes which people believe have lot to do with one’s fate.

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