Nag Panchami in 2026
Every year during the Hindu month of Sravana, on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha, also known as Panchami Tithi, Nag Panchami is celebrated. This day, which comes in July or August according to the Gregorian calendar, is devoted to the worship of snakes, particularly cobras, which are thought to possess divine power in Hindu mythology. Due to Panchami Tithi's alignment with the auspicious Purvahna Kala, which falls between sunrise and midday, the spiritual and religious ceremonies usually start early in the morning.
History of Nag Panchami
Several tales about snakes and the origin of Nag Panchami may be found in Hindu mythology:
- The festival's beginnings are linked to the tale of Janamejaya, a Kuru dynasty king, in the holy scriptures of the Mahabharata, Narada Purana, and Skanda Purana
- According to legend, the monarch Parikshita, the son of Arjuna, was once bitten by the Nagraj Takshaka in the Mahabharata, which ultimately caused his death
- His son Janamejaya planned the Sarpa Yaga, an act that killed all snakes worldwide, in revenge for Parikshita's killing
- Several brahmin sages visited King Janamejaya's Yaga on the fifth day of the month of Shravan to say powerful mantras in front of Yagna Kunda
- The snakes began to be drawn in large numbers into the sacrificial pit is fire by the potent ritual
- The Nagraj Takshak fled into hiding with Indra, the king of the gods in heaven, after realizing everything. But Indra was powerless to assist him since the ceremony was so severe
- The goddess Manasa, the queen of snakes, was ultimately approached by the gods of heaven to request her assistance in saving the snakes
- To assist the snakes, she gave her son Astika instructions to approach King Janamejaya and ask him to put an end to the Yagya
- The youthful Astika approached the monarch and asked him to put an end to the Sarpa Yaga and pardon Nagraj Takshaka
- King Janamejaya agreed to stop Yaga because he was unable to refuse brahmin’s request
- Since then, Nag Panchami, the fifth day of the month of Shravan, has been marked to save and conserve snakes.
Significance of Nag Panchami
Here is the significance of Nag Panchami as follows:
- Honors and celebrates snakes as holy and divine beings in Hindu religion
- Recognizes serpents as symbols of spiritual energy, rain, fertility, and protection
- Draws attention to how closely snakes are associated with gods like Shiva and Vishnu
- Observed during the bright part of the month of Sravana on the fifth lunar day, Panchami
- Acts as a means of pursuing harmony between people and the frequently feared animals of nature
- Worship is thought to improve health and protect against snakebite
- Represents the deeply rooted cultural respect for all living things, even those that are feared or misunderstood.
Also, Check - Indian Holiday
Celebration of Nag Panchami
Here are some steps to celebrate Nag Panchami as follows:
- Nag Panchami is traditionally celebrated throughout India. People celebrate the day according to their own customs and beliefs in each region
- In Karnataka and Maharashtra, women light diyas and offer milk at nag temples and snake pits
- The celebration is called Aadi Panchami in southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala. For naga abhisheka, people go to temples and give milk to snakes
- The day is observed as Mansa Puja in West Bengal and Assam. The goddess of serpents, Mansa Devi, is worshipped at this event
- To honor and protect snakes, believers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh avoid farming and place milk, honey, and ghee next to snake pits in their fields.
FAQs on Nag Panchami
- What is the significance of Nag Panchami?
Nagas is an essential component of ecosystems, and Nag Panchami is celebrated to honor, respect, and protect them.
- What are Nag Panchami rituals?
Devotees arrange home pujas, where they worship snake statues and give them milk, honey, and turmeric.
- Why do we celebrate Nag Panchami?
King Janamejaya carried out the ceremony to remove snakes from the planet on this particular day. We celebrate this day to safeguard snakes and maintain Earth's cosmic balance.
- On Nag Panchami, should we maintain a day of fasting?
Although it is not required, some individuals prefer to fast on Nag Panchami in order to show their devotion and ask the snake deities for their favors. If someone chooses to fast, it's usually a partial fast, in which they may eat fruits, milk, and other basic meals but avoid other things. Fasting on Nag Panchami is optional and a matter of personal preference, just like any other religious celebration.
- Can we eat rice at Nag Panchami?
In most places, eating rice on Nag Panchami is allowed. There are no special food restrictions for Nag Panchami, in contrast to several Hindu holidays where restrictive eating is required.
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