Nag Panchami is celebrated on Panchami of Shukla Paksh in Sharavan Maas. This year, the festival will be celebrated on 4th August, Saturday in Hast nakshatra. This festival is celebrated with faith and fervor. On this day, worshiping Lord Shiva, the holder of serpent, is considered auspicious.
Celebrations:
On this day, the women draw figures of snakes on the walls of their houses using a mixture of black powder, cow dung and milk.Then offerings of milk, ghee, water and rice are made. It is believed that in reward for this worship, snakes will never bite any member of the family.
In Maharashtra, snake charmers go from house to house carrying dormant cobras in cane baskets, asking for alms and clothing.
In Kerala, snake temples are crowded on this day and worship is offered to stone or metal icons of the cosmic serpent Ananta or Sesha. Altars in many Kerala homes have a silver or copper cobra that is worshipped and offered milk and sweets as families pray for the welfare of their children and for prosperity.
In Punjab, the festival is celebrated in September-October and is called Guga Navami. A snake made of dough is taken round the village in a basket, and an offering of flour and butter is made from each house. The 'snake' is then buried.
In West Bengal and parts of Assam and Orissa, the snake deity worshipped on Nag Panchami is the goddess Mansa.
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