अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम् |
शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ||
Nag Pachami is the day of snakes observed on the
fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar
calendar. In this day, Nepali
traditionally post pictures of Nags above the doors of their homes to keep off
evil spirits. They worship the nag by offering a symbol of milk (the white
color liquid from the paste of rice). People keep milk for snakes near snake
holes.
Hindu devotees
throughout the nation are thronging temples of Nags since early morning. On
this day digging the earth is taboo as it could kill or harm snakes which
reside in the earth. There are many myths prevailing in the Nepali society
regarding the Nag Panchami festival. Nags are deity snakes or special snakes. Those
snakes have especial roles in Hindu Mythologies.
People make cottons
garland, use cow dung and rice flour’s serpent’s from and worship it with cow’s
milk, lava, barley, sesame, nuts and with some other religious items. It is
believed that if Nag-Panchami is observed properly every year the Nags provide
us good health wealth and blessing during our life. If Nags are angry they make
us sick and no medicine can heal.
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There are various
mythological beliefs about Nagpanchami and its celebration. Mahabharata
tells that Lord Krishna conquered Nag Kalia and put an end to his evil deeds
on the day of Shrawan Panchami. People believe that is the reason why people
started celebrating this panchami as Nag Panchami. Puran says the earth is
lifted by Shesh Nag on his head. Lord Vishnu is sleeping on its coil inside
the Ocean. Kali Nag, Bashuki Nag, Astha Nag, Padma Nag; and the Karkot Nags
are the very powerful Nags. Scripture
explains that without Nags’ help there will be no rain.So people worship Nags
for the cause of water, offer prayers to Nags, and place food items such as
milk and honey in their fields for Nags. Few men wearing demon masks dance in
the streets as a part of a Nag Panchami ritual.
We have our own myths
and legends surrounding Nags, which lead us to celebrate Nag Panchami on a
large scale.
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