Nag Panchami is the festival, followed by Hindu Population in India and Nepal, where the people, especially women, worship snakes or serpents by offering milk and pray for the wellness of their families.
The day falls on the Panchami tithi of Sukla Paksha during Shrawan month. According to the English calender the day falls in the month of July-August. This year the occasion has occurred at August 7 on Sunday.
According to Hindu mythology the snakes are worshiped as it is believed that any worshiping offered to the snakes on this auspicious day would reach to the serpent Gods. The serpent Gods which are worshiped on this day are, Ananta, Vasuki, Shehsha, Padma, Kambala, Karkotaka, Ashvatara, Dhritarashtra, Shankhapala, Kaliya, Takshak and Pingala.
The two mantras are recite on this day are,
Sarva Nagaah preeyantam mey yey kechit Prithivithaley,
yey cha helimarichistha yentarey Divi samstithah
Yey Nadeeshu Mahanaga ye Sarasvati gaaminah,
yey cha Vaapee tadagashu teshu sarveshu vai namah
Translation: May the snakes who are staying in this world, sky, heaven, sun-rays, lakes, wells, ponds etc. bless us and we all salute them.
Translation: The names of nine Nag Devtas are Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya. If chanted regularly every day in the morning, will keep you protected from all evils and make you victorious in life.
Few people fast on the day before the Nag Panchami and worship the snake god, the day is knows as Nag Chaturthi
By Prajakt K.
