In Hinduism, serpents are considered as sacred and many Hindus worship snakes. Nag Panchami is a festival celebrated in different parts of India by worshipping real snakes or images of snakes.Nag Panchami celebrations are done to appease snakes. Find out why snakes are worshipped and also the significance of snake worship. This festival falls on the fifth day after a new moon night in the month of Shraawan. People in different places celebrate it in different ways. In this articleNag Panchami in South IndiaNag Panchami in North IndiaNag Panchami in Eastern IndiaSnake Worship in MaharashtraBackground and Significance of Snake WorshipNag Panchami Celebrations in Different Parts of India Nag Panchami festival is celebrated through India by following diverse customs and traditions. Let us have a look at how Nag Panchami is celebrated in different parts of India. Nag Panchami in South India Nag Panchami here is an occasion for siblings to come together and celebrate the welfare of the family. Married women and girls wake up early in the morning and get ready to worship the snake. Snakes can generally be found in ant hills, so these women and girls visit those places and perform a Puja to the snake’s home. If no ant hill can be found anywhere, they worship snake statues. Milk which is used for the Puja is taken back home and offered to others as Prasad. Nag Panchami in North India In Punjab, this festival is celebrated as Guga Navami. A big snake is created using dough and worshipped. It is taken to various homes in the village and people give flour and butter as offerings. This festival is dedicated to Goga – the snake God. Nag Panchami in Eastern India In many parts of Eastern India, this festival is dedicated to the serpent Goddess, Manasa. Prayers are offered to her, seeking blessings for a prosperous future. Rituals are performed to please her and sacrifices are also made. Live shows depicting the life and legends of this snake Goddess are organised. It is especially the womenfolk who pray to her, asking to help them face the various obstacles in their life. Worship of Manasa Devi is more popular in rural Bengal. Snake Worship in Maharashtra A clay idol of a snake is prepared and bathed in milk. A Tikka of red vermillion powder and turmeric is pasted on the forehead of the idol and red hibiscus flowers are generally offered at the foot of the idol. On this day, farmers refrain from ploughing the field to prevent any accidental injury to snakes. They do not do any cutting with farm equipment. People visit temples which hold special significance and importance for snakes. People also visit Shiva temples as snakes are said to be very dear to him. Background and Significance of Snake Worship In India there are many snakes in villages. Nag Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day after new moon (Amavasya) and it is around this time that snakes come out. Generally, there is rainfall during this time, so snakes come out from wherever they have been hiding. Snakes used to sometimes come inside the house also and people often used to be afraid that it will bite their children or others. Snake bites can be very fateful. Hence, snake worship was initially started to please the snakes and pray to them to protect their children and family and not cause harm. This is one of the important legends as to why snakes are worshipped. Snakes worship is an ancient religious practice in India and snakes are accorded high status in Hinduism. In many Indian communities, childless women pray to snakes so that they are blessed with a child. Couples make offerings and perform Puja to the snake God and very often they are blessed with progeny. During Nag Panchami, people forcefully feed milk to snakes. Nowadays with so much progress in science, it has been revealed that giving milk to snakes can actually be very harmful to them. Milk is not a food for snakes and people should not offer milk to snakes. Instead of milk, water can be used as a substitute. So, let us to continue to celebrate our festivals but at the same time ensure that no harm is done. Animals, plants, man are all part of nature so we should take care of nature and co-exist peacefully as creations of God. People can continue to worship snakes and celebrate Nag Panchami, but at the same time, they should not cause suffering to snakes or endanger them.When is Nag Panchami celebrated? What is the legend behind Nag Panchami celebration? How is Nag Panchami celebrated in different parts of India? Discuss here.
In Hinduism, serpents are considered as sacred and many Hindus worship snakes. Nag Panchami is a festival celebrated in different parts of India by worshipping real snakes or images of snakes.Nag Panchami celebrations are done to appease snakes. Find out why snakes are worshipped and also the significance of snake worship. This festival falls on the fifth day after a new moon night in the month of Shraawan. People in different places celebrate it in different ways.
Nag Panchami Celebrations in Different Parts of India
Nag Panchami festival is celebrated through India by following diverse customs and traditions. Let us have a look at how Nag Panchami is celebrated in different parts of India.
Nag Panchami in South India
Nag Panchami here is an occasion for siblings to come together and celebrate the welfare of the family. Married women and girls wake up early in the morning and get ready to worship the snake. Snakes can generally be found in ant hills, so these women and girls visit those places and perform a Puja to the snake’s home. If no ant hill can be found anywhere, they worship snake statues. Milk which is used for the Puja is taken back home and offered to others as Prasad.
Nag Panchami in North India
In Punjab, this festival is celebrated as Guga Navami. A big snake is created using dough and worshipped. It is taken to various homes in the village and people give flour and butter as offerings. This festival is dedicated to Goga – the snake God.
Nag Panchami in Eastern India
In many parts of Eastern India, this festival is dedicated to the serpent Goddess, Manasa. Prayers are offered to her, seeking blessings for a prosperous future. Rituals are performed to please her and sacrifices are also made. Live shows depicting the life and legends of this snake Goddess are organised. It is especially the womenfolk who pray to her, asking to help them face the various obstacles in their life. Worship of Manasa Devi is more popular in rural Bengal.
Snake Worship in Maharashtra
A clay idol of a snake is prepared and bathed in milk. A Tikka of red vermillion powder and turmeric is pasted on the forehead of the idol and red hibiscus flowers are generally offered at the foot of the idol. On this day, farmers refrain from ploughing the field to prevent any accidental injury to snakes. They do not do any cutting with farm equipment. People visit temples which hold special significance and importance for snakes. People also visit Shiva temples as snakes are said to be very dear to him.
Background and Significance of Snake Worship
In India there are many snakes in villages. Nag Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day after new moon (Amavasya) and it is around this time that snakes come out. Generally, there is rainfall during this time, so snakes come out from wherever they have been hiding. Snakes used to sometimes come inside the house also and people often used to be afraid that it will bite their children or others. Snake bites can be very fateful. Hence, snake worship was initially started to please the snakes and pray to them to protect their children and family and not cause harm. This is one of the important legends as to why snakes are worshipped.
Snakes worship is an ancient religious practice in India and snakes are accorded high status in Hinduism. In many Indian communities, childless women pray to snakes so that they are blessed with a child. Couples make offerings and perform Puja to the snake God and very often they are blessed with progeny.
During Nag Panchami, people forcefully feed milk to snakes. Nowadays with so much progress in science, it has been revealed that giving milk to snakes can actually be very harmful to them. Milk is not a food for snakes and people should not offer milk to snakes. Instead of milk, water can be used as a substitute. So, let us to continue to celebrate our festivals but at the same time ensure that no harm is done. Animals, plants, man are all part of nature so we should take care of nature and co-exist peacefully as creations of God. People can continue to worship snakes and celebrate Nag Panchami, but at the same time, they should not cause suffering to snakes or endanger them.
When is Nag Panchami celebrated? What is the legend behind Nag Panchami celebration? How is Nag Panchami celebrated in different parts of India? Discuss here.
