Festivals in Shravana: Nag Pachami

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Festivals in Shravana: Nag Pachami

By Meera S. Sashital

Source: Free Press Journal

 

The Nag Panchami festival falls on the 5th of month of Shravan

(somewhere between July-August) and is sacred to the worship of Nagas

or serpents.

 

The Puranas and our scriptures describe the importance of worshipping

snakes and hold them in great honour. Nag means cobra and Panchami

means 5th; hence the festival is called Nag Panchami. It seems that

the Vedas forbid people to molest or kill snakes during this time and

believe that they should be fed with milk and worshipped.

 

Hindus all over the country venerate snakes or Nagas out of fear or

awe, perhaps due to their association with gods and worship the

snakes to appease them and to keep them from doing any harm. There

are different ceremonies varying from place to place and many legends

too. Generally, an earthen image of a serpent is bought by each

family, or a painting of a family of five seven or nine serpents is

applied with sandalwood paste or turmeric. Early morning, Hindu women

offer flowers, parched rice and beans, or parched gram to the painted

serpents. The ceremony is performed by lighting of diyas or lamps,

offering fruits to the images and burning incense. In the evening,

the same process is repeated.

 

In Bengal, Manasa is acknowledged as the 'mother snake' and is

worshipped as a goddess and for protection. Nag Panchami is

celebrated in honour of serpents in Bengal with great pomp and

occasion.

 

There are many temples and shrines dedicated to snakes. Hardevji

temple in Jaipur is where Nag Panchami is observed with great

festivity. Sirale, is also a centre for snake worship. A fair is held

on Nag Panchami, when snakes are caught and worshipped, later being

set free. There is also a temple at Vittal dedicated to Lord

Ananteshwara. It is believed that this temple at Vittal was the first

temple of the Saraswat community in Kanara in Karnataka.