Nagapanchami 2017: Here is how the festival of worshiping snakes is celebrated

Nag Panchami is one of the prominent Hindu festivals celebrated across India and Nepal. The term 'Nag' means snake and 'Panchami' means the fifth day.

What is Nag Panchami?

Nag Panchami or Naag Panchami is a Hindu festival held during the Hindu month of Savan and is all about snake worship. It is a date that usually falls in either July or August a couple of days after Hariyali Teej and is celebrated.

When is it celebrated?

Every year Nag Panchami is celebrated in the month of Savan.

What they do on this day?

Hindu women offer milk, sweets and flowers to snakes in the hope that the Lord of the Serpents, Nag Devata, will look upon their prayers favourably.

Devotees offer prayers on this occasion

People who observe Nag Panchami religiously according to Hindu tradition, worship twelve serpents on this day namely Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvatara, Dhritarashtra, Shankhapala, Kaliya, Takshaka, and Pingala. They recite the Mahamritunjya Mantra on this day and also meditate on the name of Lord Shiva by chanting ‘Om Namaha Shivaya'.

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