festivals
What is Nag Panchami and what are the traditional rituals performed on this day?
The snakes that are worshipped
Eight great nagas, or divine serpents, are at the heart of Nag Panchami. Among the most widely named are Ananta, Vasuki, and Takshaka. These are not ordinary snakes in the tradition. They are powerful beings, closely linked to gods and cosmic order. Ananta is the serpent on whom Vishnu rests. Vasuki was used as a rope during the churning of the ocean. Worshipping them on this day is seen as seeking their protection and blessings.
Where the festival comes from
One well-known story behind Nag Panchami comes from the Mahabharata. A young brahmin named Astika stopped a great snake sacrifice that was meant to destroy all serpents. His intervention saved the nagas, and the day is linked to that act of protection. This story gives the festival a meaning that runs both ways — humans honour snakes, and snakes are remembered as beings worthy of respect, not just fear.
Why milk and flowers
On Nag Panchami, families offer milk, flowers, turmeric, and sometimes sandalwood paste to clay or stone snake images, or in some places to live cobras. Milk is the most common offering. In the tradition, it is seen as pure and cooling, a fitting gift to a powerful and potentially dangerous being. The act of offering is understood as one of reverence, asking for safety rather than trying to tame or control. Some households draw snake figures on the wall or doorway and worship those instead of a physical snake.
Regional customs
How Nag Panchami is kept varies quite a bit across India. In Maharashtra, women visit ant hills where snakes are believed to live and pour milk there. In Karnataka, the festival is celebrated with particular energy, and snake images made of silver or clay are central. In North India, the focus is often on temples with snake shrines. Some communities observe fasting. In many villages, folk belief ties this time of year to the monsoon season, when snakes come out of flooded burrows and encounters with them are more likely. Worshipping snakes on this day is also seen as a way of asking for protection from snake bites during these months.
Today
In cities and among the diaspora, live snake worship is much less common. Most families use images, idols, or drawn figures. Animal welfare concerns have led many people and temples to move away from offering milk to live snakes. The religious and cultural meaning of the day stays strong even as the form of worship shifts. For many families far from home, Nag Panchami is a way of staying connected to a festival that is deeply local in its regional flavour but widely shared across Hindu communities.