How to Celebrate Nagara Panchami

Nagara Panchami observed on the fifth day after Amavasya in Shravan month is dedicated to the Nagas, the snake deities. Hindus observe Nagara Panchami Vratha on the day. In western part of India certain Hindus fast on Nagara Chaturthi day, which falls a day before.

SPECIALITIES 

This day is like Raksha Bandhan for South Indian Hindus. If there is no ant hill nearby, they offer puja to snake statues erected in nearby temples. A portion of milk used for puja is taken back home and offered to everyone as prasad. Sisters traditionally invite their brothers to their home. They then immerse a flower in the leftover milk and apply it on their brothers' back, perform aarti, and present the men with gifts. Thus on the Nag Panchami day in some regions the brother visits his married sister and she applies milk or ghee on the back, spine and navel of the brother and she prays for his long life. The rubbing of milk symbolically reminds the umbilical connection. Sweets like Kadubu and Nuchununde are prepared, offered to Lord Krishna, and then distributed among guests.

REASON BEHIND NAGARA PANCHAMI? 

The main reason of celebrating this day must be that snakes are a great threat to mankind during these months. The monsoon season is at its peak during this period (July – August) and snakes move out of their burrows, which are filled with water, and occupy spaces frequented by human beings and may harm them. So it is widely believed that Nagara Panchami is observed to please the Nagas and avoid snake bites during this season.

SPECIAL PUJAS 

Prayers are offered at Naga temples, sacred places with idols of Nagas and at anthills. Almost all villages in India have a sacred place for snakes with a small grove and numerous idols of the Nagas. Prayers are also offered at the shrines of Shiva. In West Bengal and Orissa, Mansa, the queen of serpents, is worshipped on this day.

Milk, betel leaf, betel nut, tender coconuts, turmeric powder, puffed paddy, jaggery, flower bunches and tender leaves of palm and areca trees are offered. In some regions, people feed snakes with milk. In most places snake charmers arrive with snakes on the day. Certain villages in Karnataka are known to feed milk to poisonous snake.

NAGARA RANGOLI 

In many places, two images of snakes are drawn on both sides of doors using cow dung, rice or turmeric paste on the day.  In some places people draw a five-headed snake. Snake kolams are drawn on this day in South India. This is to welcome the Nag Raja. Five-hooded idols are worshipped in many regions. The idol of five-hooded snake is made using mud, turmeric, sandal and saffron.

VRATHA

In some places, people fast from sunrise to sunset. It is a partial fast and they eat food without salt. Deep-fried things are avoided on the day. Some people only consume food after sunset. Some Hindu communities in South India have an elaborate oil bath on the day. There is a belief that unmarried women who undertake Naga Panchami Vrat and do the puja to Nagas will get good husbands.  

Read Also: Nagara Panchami Legend