KATHMANDU: The Nagpanchami festival is being observed across Nepal today, with devotees worshipping Nag, or the serpent god, as part of a centuries-old Hindu tradition.
On the occasion, many households place or paste pictures of serpents above the main entrance of their homes as a symbolic act of worship and protection.
Nagpanchami is celebrated annually on the fifth day of Shrawan Shukla, according to the lunar calendar. The festival is dedicated to the worship of serpents, which hold an important place in Hindu religious traditions and mythology.
According to religious belief, displaying a picture of a serpent at the entrance of a house protects residents from harm caused by snakes and scorpions and safeguards the household against calamities such as fire and lightning.
The tradition of serpent worship is believed to date back to the Vedic period. In Vedic tradition, Nag is revered as the king of serpents and is associated with protection, fertility and the forces of nature.
Devotees visit Nag temples and sacred water bodies on the occasion to offer prayers, flowers, milk and other offerings. In the Kathmandu Valley, Nagpokhari, Taudaha and Nagdaha are among the prominent sites where large numbers of devotees gather to observe the festival.
The festival also reflects the traditional Hindu belief in respecting and living in harmony with nature and its various forms. For many devotees, Nagpanchami is therefore not only a religious observance but also an occasion to seek protection, prosperity and well-being for their families.
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