Naga Panchami: devotees gather to worship serpent deities (photos)
Snake worship has been practiced since the Vedic period.
KATHMANDU: Nag Panchami, which is observed every year on the day of Shrawan Shukla Panchami, is observed today by worshipping the snake and pasting it on the main door of the house.
It is religiously believed that if you have a snake picture in your house all year, you will not be hurt by snakes or scorpions, and you will also be protected from the fear of fire, clouds, and lightning.
Snake worship has been practiced since the Vedic period. Naga is regarded the king of snakes in Vedic mythology. Water will be scarce if the snake is enraged, hence there is a practice of worshipping the snake for water as well.
According to the Varaha Purana, this day is also famous for Naga Puja since Brahma had a conversation with Nagaraja on Shravan Shukla Panchami.
There are snakes in every house. The religious tradition that if the snakes sitting under the foundation of the home move, the foundation will collapse has also preserved the tradition of snake worship. Nagas have been worshipped as Vishnu and Shiva since the Vedic Sanatan period.
Lord Shiva wears a snake garland, and Lord Vishnu sleeps on the bed of the rest of the snakes under a straw umbrella, hence both gods are considered snakes.
On this day, there is a unique crowd of devotees in Nagpokhari, Nagdah, and Nagpokhari of Bhaktapur in the valley.
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