Nag Panchmi

Nag Panchami is an important Hindu festival celebrated in many parts of India. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of Shravan that falls in the months of July and August.

In India snakes are worshipped on the day of Nag Panchami. This is the time when all the serpents come out of their holes that get covered with rain-water to seek shelter in gardens and houses. Snakes are worship in most of the countries. India, the tradition of worshipping snakes is in practice before Vedic times.

The tradition of worshipping snakes is common amongst ‘Nagas’ the tribe spread in many parts of India. One of the reason for considering snakes as sacred is the thousand-headed Shesh Nag who symbolises the couch of Lord Vishnu. Hindus believe in the immortality of the snake because of its habit of sloughing its skin. As such Eternity in Hinduism is often represented by a serpent eating its own tail.

In Jainism and Buddhism snake is regarded as sacred because of their divine qualities. It is believed that a Cobra snake saved the life of Buddha and another protected the Jain Muni Parshwanath. Because of which the huge snake is carved on the walls of many Hindu temples just like the one which is provided above the head of the statue of Muni Parshwanath.

The great religious connection of snakes doesn’t end here. The snakes also have great connection with the Lord Krishna and Lord Shiva making the festival more significant for the Hindus.