Nag Panchami 2025 Festival Celebration

About Naga Panchami 2025 Festival Celebration

Nag Panchami (Hindi - नाग पंचमी) is celebrated in honor of snakes or serpents. It is observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the Indian lunisolar calendar month of Shravana, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of July or August. The festival is of special importance in places in India where there are many snakes, such as the state of Kerala, and some of the temples there have snake pits.

Naga Panchami 2025 Date

Date of Nag Panchami in 2025 – Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Naga Panchami Meaning

Naga Panchami or Nagula Panchami is a festival of the Indian subcontinent and a part of Indian and Nepalese Vaisakhi that involves the worship of Naga or Serpent gods. "Naga" means snake, and "Panchami" is the fifth day of the fortnight in Hindu calendar. On this day, snakes are worshipped to seek their blessings and protection from snake bites and devotees also perform prayers and rituals to snake deities, which are much revered in Hindu mythology and culture. The festival is dedicated to the worship of snakes, which are regarded as an embodiment of divinity in Hindu belief.

Naga Panchami Significance

Naga Panchami is one of the most important festivals with deep religious, cultural, and mythological significance in Nepal. Key significances of Naga Panchami are as follows:

Respect for Snakes: Snakes are respected and worshiped in the festival as they are being considered as the divine beings. Sacred snakes play a role in Hindu religion, being worshipped as protectors of the environment.

Mythological Origin: There are mythological stories attached to serpent deities like Sheshnag (Adishesha), the serpent on whom Lord Vishnu rests, and Vasuki, the serpent king, associated with Lord Shiva and Naga Panchami. It celebrates these spiritual connections.

Agricultural Significance: In rural society, snakes are considered as protector of crops. And worshipping them on Naga Panchami is thought to protect one from snakebite and to ensure freedom from rodent troubles and a good harvest.

Ecological Harmony: The festival stresses on the relationship between man and nature, with great importance given to snakes because of their role in the environment and ecosystem.

Religious Rites: Worshipers pray, make sacrifice, and go to snake temples wishing for good blessings, peace, and freedom from illness. It is a day when people pay reverence to and seek forgiveness for any harm they may have done to snakes, however innocently.

Cultural Programs: Naga Panchami is observed with cultural programs throughout India, where processions, folk dances and fairs are organized in different parts of the country reflecting the country's rich culture and diversity.

According to common belief it reflects veneration of the snakes, their role in Hindu mythology, importance in agriculture, and the belief in their role as the custodian of the treasures that lie under the earth, to promote togetherness among people and harmony and co-existence with nature.

Naga Panchami Story

There are numerous myths and beliefs related to Naga Panchami. One popular story is that of a young farmer known as Parikshit.

Legend has it that Parikshit once insulted meditating sage Shamika Rishi by placing a dead snake on Shamika Rishi's shoulder while Shamika was in deep trance and remained unaware of the act. Sage's son Sringi, who was offended by such a lack of respect, placed a death-curse upon Parikshit and he died of Takshaka's bite on the 7th day.

Hearing of the curse, Parikshit took shelter in the sage Kashyapa, who gave him direction on how to save himself. Parikshit built a lofty tower, and surrounded it with a trench which he filled with water, to secure it from the bite of the serpent.

By a strange coincidence, Takshaka assumed the form of a Brahmana and entered a fruit which was to be brought to Parikshit in the tower and brought into the tower by the disguised Takshaka. Parikshit, not knowing the deception, wore the fruit on his neck, and when Takshaka came and bit the fruit, his bite was fatal.

It is also common to associate the legend of Parikshit meeting with Takshaka as Naga Panchami. The day celebrates and placates the snakes and seeks their blessings and protection against snake-bites, paying respect to their divine nature, as illustrated in several mythological tales.

Nag Panchami Pooja

Nag Panchami pooja or worship held on day of Nag Panchami itself includes series of rituals related to snakes, praying and offering worship as a form of protection. Following is the step-by-step pooja vidhi of Nag Panchami:

1. Purifying the Idol or Image: Followers visit a temple or set up a small area at home. Pictures or statuettes of snakes in silver, stone, or clay are set on a potsherd or a raised platform or are established in a mud image, in a corner besmeared with cow dung and decorated with flowers and leaves.

2. Purity: The devotee takes a bath or an ablution before beginning the pooja, to signify not just purification of body but also that of the mind.

3. Offerings: As a sign of respect and love, snake idols are offered milk, honey, water, vermilion, turmeric, etc. A few also provide grains, fruits or special foods cooked for the day.

4. Mantras and Prayers: Pilgrims chant Vedic mantras, mantras in praise of snakes or simply prayers seeking blessings of serpentine deities. They are offered in protection from the evils associated with snakes and as thank-offerings for their favour and bounty.

5. Aarti: In the end there is hymn singing, aarti, and blessings from snakes for the prosperity of the family.

6. Prasad distribution: At the end, prasad (sanctified food that has been offered to the deity), usually sweets or fruits, is distributed to the devotees and it is believed to be blessed food offered to snake gods.

The pooja procedures may differ according to the regional customs and traditions. Devotees who perform these rites worship the snakes, seeking the protection of the divine serpents in the belief that they will herald the blessings of snakes on Nag Panchami and foster respect towards them.

What God is Nag Panchami in the name of?

Nag Panchami is the day of snakes or serpents worship. But the worship of several snake gods in Hindu mythology is also related to it, such as:

Sheshnag or Adishesha: Sheshnag is the snake above on which Lord Vishnu reclines in Kshir Sagar. He is generally represented as a multi-headed snake on which Lord Vishnu lays in the cosmic ocean.

Vasuki: Another important snake-god, the king of the Nagas. Vasuki was of great help during the Samudra Manthan with the Devas on one side and the Asuras on the other trying to get amrit.

Naga Devatas: Apart from Sheshnag and Vasuki there are several other snake gods and deities or Naga Devatas – worshipped on Nag Panchami. They are Ananta, Padma, Kambala, Kaliya, and others and have special importance in Hindu beliefs.

They pray to these snakes and seek their blessings along with the protection against any snake bite or for their well-being.