Millions across Bharat prepare for the sacred and symbolic festival of Nag Panchami, an ancient observance that traces its roots deep into the spiritual fabric of Hindu civilisation. This year, Nag Panchami will be observed on July 29, with the auspicious puja muhurat beginning at 5:41 AM and concluding at 8:23 AM, as per Drik Panchang. The Panchami Tithi begins on July 28 at 11:24 PM and ends on July 30 at 12:46 AM.
Worshipped by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists, this festival is not merely a ritual it is a potent reminder of reverence towards nature, an acknowledgment of the ecological role of serpents, and a testament to the deep intertwining of beliefs and environmental ethics. Nag Panchami is marked especially across northern, central, western, and southern Bharat—celebrated two days after Hariyali Teej with variations in customs across regions. Gujarat uniquely observes it 15 days later, on August 13, aligning with its lunar calendar.
The word Nag means serpent and Panchami denotes the fifth day of the lunar fortnight. While the surface rituals involve offering milk, flowers, turmeric, and sweets to images of serpents and sometimes to live cobras handled by snake charmers, the spiritual essence of the festival lies deeper in the ancient stories of survival, sacrifice, and cosmic harmony.
One of the most dramatic and philosophical episodes linked to this day harks back to the Mahabharata, where King Janamejaya launched a genocidal sarpa yagna to exterminate the serpent race after his father, King Parikshit, was killed by the deadly serpent Takshak. The ritual flames consumed thousands of serpents until the young sage Astik, son of Mansa Devi, intervened, persuading the king to stop the massacre. The halt of destruction and the preservation of serpent life on Panchami marked the genesis of this annual observance, symbolising the importance of compassion, restraint, and coexistence.
On this day, devotees invoke the blessings of the revered Ashta Naag Devtas—Vasuki, Takshaka, Kaliya, Manibhadra, Airavata, Dhritarashtra, Karkotaka, and Dhananjaya—who are believed to be guardians of life and symbols of fertility and protection. A mantra often chanted on this day from the Bhavishyottara Purana reads:
“Vasuki: Takshaschaiva Kaliyo Manibhadrakah,
Airavato Dhritarashtra: Karkotakadhananjay…”Meaning: “These eight great serpents offer protection and fearlessness to all living beings.” The worship also includes a universal salutation to serpents in all realms—on earth, in water, in celestial domains emphasising the all-pervasive presence and respect for the natural order.
Another story recalls a farmer’s daughter who, after losing her family to snake bites in retaliation for disturbing a snake nest, pleaded with the mother snake with heartfelt prayers and offerings of milk. Her piety moved the serpent to resurrect her family, reinforcing the values of forgiveness, devotion, and harmony with nature.
A similar tale recounts a sister seeking a Ketki flower for her Naag Puja. Her brother dies from a snake bite during his search, but is revived through the sister’s unwavering prayers, laying the foundation for the tradition of sisters fasting and praying for their brothers’ long lives—a ritual still observed by women across the country on this day.
Yet another tale connects the festival to the cosmic churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), during which the deadly poison Halahal emerged. Bhagwan Shiva consumed the poison to save the universe, and his companion serpents absorbed some of its residual droplets. Devatas calmed the divine chaos with Ganga Abhishek, thereby initiating the custom of bathing Shiva and his snakes with milk and sacred water, symbolising cleansing and appeasement.
In an age of biodiversity loss and growing ecological crises, Nag Panchami offers an urgent and timeless message—that of coexistence with all forms of life, even those that evoke fear. Serpents, especially cobras, play a crucial role in controlling rodent populations and maintaining ecological balance. By celebrating snakes, the festival urges humanity to move beyond ignorance and superstition and adopt a more inclusive and sacred outlook towards nature.
Ironically, the festival is also marred by misunderstood rituals—particularly the offering of milk to live snakes, which are in fact lactose-intolerant. While many Mandirs and communities have moved to symbolic offerings or encouraged eco-conscious worship, snake charmers with cobras in bamboo baskets still draw large crowds, especially in rural Bharat. Animal welfare groups have, in recent years, stepped up campaigns to protect snakes from dehydration, mishandling, and ritualistic abuse, urging a return to scriptural and symbolic reverence.
- Northern and Central Bharat: States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan will celebrate Nag Panchami on July 29, with Mandir rituals, local fairs, and familial pujas.
- Western and Southern Bharat: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu observe the festival as per the Amavasyant calendar, aligning this year’s observance also with July 29.
- Gujarat Exception: Uniquely, Gujarat follows the new moon-based lunar cycle, celebrating Nag Panchami on August 13, three days before Krishna Janmashtami.
One of the epicentres of celebration is the Nagoba Mandir in Nagpur, Maharashtra, where serpentine idols are ceremonially bathed, and processions unfold with sacred chants and community participation.
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