Other · Nagas (serpent deities), Shiva
Nag Panchami
The day snakes are worshipped with milk and flowers, honouring their place in nature and in Shiva's story.
Also known as: Naga Panchami
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright fortnight of the month of Shravana in most of north India. In parts of south India and Maharashtra it is kept on the same tithi by the amanta count, and some regions observe it in the dark half instead.
About Nag Panchami
Nag Panchami is the day set apart to honour snakes, who have been revered in India since ancient times as guardians of the earth, water and hidden treasure. During the monsoon, when the rains flood their burrows and bring them into the open, people turn to worship rather than fear.
Devotees offer milk, rice and flowers to a snake image or, where tradition allows, at an anthill. Many draw or paste pictures of serpents on the wall near the door, and fairs and snake-related ceremonies are held at temples dedicated to the Nagas.
Significance
In Hindu belief the Nagas are tied to the great gods: Shesha carries Vishnu, Vasuki wraps Shiva's neck, and Kaliya was humbled by Krishna. Worship on this day is a way of showing respect and asking, in the traditional phrasing, for the family's protection from harm.
There is also an ecological side. Snakes keep rodent numbers in check in farmland, and a festival that asks people to treat them with reverence has long encouraged a gentler attitude toward wildlife during the season when encounters are most common.
Naga puja at home
- 1Bathe early and clean the place of worship. Many families draw serpents on the wall with cow dung, turmeric or red paste, or place a silver, clay or picture image of a Naga.
- 2Light a lamp and offer water, then raw milk, to the image. Traditionally the milk is offered at the image or an anthill, not poured on a live snake.
- 3Offer turmeric, kumkum, rice, flowers, incense and a little sweet or parched rice (lai) as bhog.
- 4Chant a Naga mantra or the names of the great serpents, such as Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Takshaka and Kaliya.
- 5Read or hear the Nag Panchami katha and sing the aarti.
- 6Many families avoid digging, ploughing and cutting with a knife on this day, and in some regions prefer steamed or boiled food to fried food; these are family customs rather than fixed rules.
- 7Share the prasad and give a small donation to a priest or the needy.
The story
One widely told tale is of the farmer whose plough accidentally harmed a nest of young snakes. The mother snake took revenge on his family, but his surviving daughter prayed sincerely to the Nagas, and the serpent relented and restored them. The story is the origin of the practice of not digging the earth on this day.
Another tradition recalls Krishna's defeat of the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna: he danced on its hoods until it surrendered, and was spared. A third story, from the Mahabharata, tells of King Janamejaya's snake sacrifice, which the sage Astika is said to have stopped on Shravana Shukla Panchami, saving the serpent race.
What to do
- ✓Offer milk, flowers and rice at the Naga image or anthill.
- ✓Keep the worship simple and respectful.
- ✓Draw or place the image near the entrance of the house.
- ✓Respect snakes as part of the ecosystem and call trained rescuers if one enters the home.
- ✓Share prasad with family and neighbours.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not pour milk on a live snake; it is harmful to the animal.
- ✕Avoid digging the ground or ploughing, as per tradition.
- ✕Do not catch, tease or display snakes for the festival.
- ✕Avoid cutting or frying food if your family or region keeps that custom.
- ✕Do not stitch or use needles on this day if your family follows that custom.
Around the country
- Maharashtra: women worship an anthill and sing songs, and Battis Shirala in Sangli district is known for its large Nag Panchami celebration.
- Kerala: serpent groves (sarpa kavu) hold special worship, and the Mannarasala temple near Haripad is among the best-known Naga shrines.
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar: pictures of snakes are drawn on walls and the day is also linked with local wrestling and games in some places.
- Karnataka, Andhra and Tamil Nadu: families offer milk and sweets at anthills and carved snake stones.
Frequently asked questions
Why is milk offered to snakes?
Milk is a pure and auspicious offering in Hindu worship. However, snakes do not drink milk and it can harm them, so offering it at an image or anthill, rather than to a living snake, is the right way.
Is Nag Panchami on the same date everywhere?
Mostly, yes: Shravana Shukla Panchami. But some regions follow a different month-count or observe it in the dark half, so a few local dates differ.
Can I observe it if I do not have an anthill nearby?
Yes. A picture, a drawn image or a silver or clay Naga at home is enough, or you can visit a Naga or Shiva temple.