Hindu · 6 August 2027
Nag Panchami
नाग पंचमी
Serpents are worshipped and thanked; no digging or ploughing today.
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Why it is celebrated
On Shravana Shukla Panchami families worship the naga — snake deities — for protection, especially in the rains when snakes leave flooded burrows.
The story behind it
In the Mahabharata, King Janamejaya held a great sacrifice to destroy all snakes after his father Parikshit died of the snake Takshaka’s bite. The sage Astika stopped the sacrifice on Panchami and saved the serpents. Krishna’s victory over the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna is also remembered. Snakes protect crops from rats, and the day teaches respect for them.
How to celebrate
- Draw a snake with turmeric or sandal at the door and worship it
- Offer milk, flowers and rice at an anthill or temple (not to live snakes)
- Avoid digging the earth today
- Tell children the story of Astika and Kaliya
Vrat katha
Nag Panchami Vrat Katha
Long ago a farmer lived with his wife, two sons and a daughter. One day, while ploughing, his ploughshare accidentally crushed three young snakes, the children of a female serpent.
When the serpent returned and found her children dead, she was filled with grief and rage and vowed revenge. That night she bit the farmer, his wife and both sons, and they died.
The next morning she went to bite the daughter too. But she found the girl had placed a bowl of milk and was worshipping the snake deity with folded hands, asking forgiveness: “O Mother Serpent, forgive any wrong our family has done.”
Seeing the girl’s faith and humility, the serpent’s anger melted. She drank the milk and, pleased, said, “Daughter, ask for a boon.” The girl said, “Mother, give my parents and brothers back their lives, and may whoever worships the snake deities on this day never fear snakes.”
The serpent revived the farmer’s family with nectar and granted the boon. That day was Shravana Shukla Panchami. Since then snakes are worshipped on this day, the earth is not dug and no plough is used.
In another story, a young wife could not visit her parents’ home because she had no brother. She worshipped a serpent as her brother; the serpent accepted her as his sister and protected her in every danger. So in many places women honour the snake deity as a brother on Nag Panchami.
O snake deities, as you showed mercy to the farmer’s daughter, protect every family. Glory to the Nag Devta!
॥ Here the katha ends ॥
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