Significance of Nag Panchami | Fusion - WeRIndia

Nag Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of snakes. It is observed in India and Nepal. It falls on the fifth day of bright lunar fortnight of Lunar month Shravan. This year it is observed today.

The worship of snakes is not uncommon in Hindu Mythology as people believe it protects from Kalsarpa Dosha. Furthermore, the worship of snakes keeps them safe from snake bites.

It is also believed by women that worshipping snakes helps them to be relieved from barrenness as snakes symbolize potency. So, many women who have no children worship the statutes of snakes on this auspicious day and seek the blessings of snake deities.

In Central India, especially in Nagpur, snake deities are worshipped in Nagoba temple. In North India, people worship snakes in the dedicated places. On Nag Panchami day, snake charmers roam around by bringing snakes in baskets including cobras and pythons. The snakes are worshipped by people. In Punjab, the worship of snakes falls in the Lunar month of Bhadra (the month after Shravan). In Eastern India, goddess Manasa, the snake goddess is also worshipped in addition to snake gods. In South India also, it is not uncommon to worship both the statues of snakes and live snakes.

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