Naag Panchami

Naag Pachami is a Hindu festival celebrated to worship snakes. Snakes are considered sacred in the Hindu mythology; right from times when mankind attained a culture, they have been invoked with prayers. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of moonlit fortnight in the month of Shravan; sometime in the month of July or August. .

Mythology:
There are various stories and myths associated with the festival. Hindus believe that the thousand headed Sheesh Naag who is a symbol of eternity is the couch of Lord Vishnu and therefore the Naag has to be worshipped. Also it is an age old belief that serpents are loved and blessed by Lord Shiva, they are an inseparable part of his existence and thus serpents are worshipped on this auspicious day.
The most popular legend is about Lord Krishna. When he was a child playing with other village boys, he fell in the river trying to fetch a ball. Kaliya, was an extremely dangerous serpent in the lake but Krishna overcame it using his powers and saved the villagers from its terror.
Another famous story is of the Snake and Farmer’s daughter. The farmer and his family had been bitten by an angry snake. They got restored to life when their eldest daughter prayed to the snake God asking forgiveness for any wrong she or her family had done.

Celebrations:
Naag Panchami is celebrated throughout India but greater festivities are seen in the Southern states. Also the celebrations vary in different parts of the country.
Hindu's believe that praying to snakes will keep them happy and safe from snake bites. Snakes are fed with milk and fruits on this day. People take blessings of the snakes. They worship Naga Devatas (Cobras). Unmarried Hindu maidens believe that fasting and performing certain rituals will help them find suitable men for marriage.

Rituals in different states:
The village of Baltis Shirale, which is situated approximately 400 kilometers from Mumbai, conducts the most outstanding celebrations. The largest collection of snakes in the world can be found here. Visitors from across the world gather in the village to worship live snakes.

In South India, people craft images of snakes using cow dung at the entrance of their house to welcome the snake god. In Kerala, stone or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Ananta or Sesha are worshipped and offered milk and sweets as families pray for their welfare and prosperity. In West Bengal and parts of Assam and Orissa Mansa, the queen of serpents is worshipped and her blessings are taken.

In Maharashtra, Hindu women dress up for the puja of Naag-Devata. They sprinkle haldi, kumkum and flowers on the snake, offer milk and pray. Cash and old clothes are given to the snake-charmers.
In Punjab, the festival is celebrated sometime in September – October and is called ‘Guga Naumi.’ A snake made from dough is taken around the village where flour and butter is made as an offering from each house. Later the snake is buried.

The festival is also celebrated in Nepal but the celebrations and belief are different from India. Ancient Nepalese civilizations worshiped the Nagas, or Serpent Kings, and believed that their relationship with the gods and nature would secure their survival.
Author: Ms Coutinho.

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