Nag Panchami is a Hindu religious festival, which is celebrated on the fifth day after Amavasya in the month of Shraavan of the Hindu calendar. This is a festival wherein snakes and their images are worshiped.
About Nag Panchami
As Hinduism is a way of life, the followers of this religion believe that God is there in every creature and thus worships every living creature. In India, snakes have been worshiped since the ancient times. According to the chronicles present in the History of India, there was a clan in India named “Nagas” during the time of Indus Valley Civilization, which dates back to 3000 years from now. This clan was considered to be highly developed and they worshiped snakes as their God, making it a part of the Indian culture as well as in Hinduism. This worshiping of snakes as deities was also followed by the Aryans, who made it even more popular. The mention of snake as God, especially the King Cobras are to be found in Hindu Mythology. According to the chronicles present in Hindu Mythology, the throne of Lord Vishnu is the Shesh Nag, who had hundred heads. Moreover, serpents are considered to be immortal as they change their skin and for this reason, in Hinduism immortality is symbolized by a snake eating its own tail. In Hinduism, snakes are also associated with Lord Shiva and Subramanyam besides Lord Vishnu, thus gaining an auspicious place in the Hindu religion.
Significance of Nag Panchami
The festival of Nag Panchami is an auspicious religious festival for the Hindus and it is celebrated in most part of India with zest. Worshiping living creatures was a part of the Hindu religion and this still persist with the celebration of Nag Pnachami. Although, modernization has touched India, the significance of festivals like Nag Panchami, where snakes are worshipped still exist in the nation. It is a significant festival of the Hindus, which is celebrated on the fifth day after Amavasya in the month of Shraavan of the Hindu calendar. The festival of Nag Panchami is also celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Krishna over the imaginary Kaliya, a grotesque black python that was killed by Krishna in the Yamuna River. This festival is celebrated during the monsoon season because during this time, snakes perpetually comes out of their holes that get suffused with rain-water to search for shelter in gardens and at many times they enter the houses and proves to be dangerous to humans. Owing to this reason, people believe that by offering prayer to Snake God, the danger that might prove to be fatal will fade away.
Celebration of Nag Panchami
The festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the nation and is especially celebrated in the states of West Bengal, Maharastra and the whole of Southern India. On this occasion, newly married women visit their maternal homes and celebrate this day with splendour. Women in villages after worshiping snakes and their idols or images, goes out with their friends and celebrates it by swinging on swings that are drooped on the branches of trees. On this festival, offerings like milk, ghee, water and rice are made in front of the idols or images as well as real snakes. Women worship the serpents by offering milk and honey in many places.
About Nag Panchami
As Hinduism is a way of life, the followers of this religion believe that God is there in every creature and thus worships every living creature. In India, snakes have been worshiped since the ancient times. According to the chronicles present in the History of India, there was a clan in India named “Nagas” during the time of Indus Valley Civilization, which dates back to 3000 years from now. This clan was considered to be highly developed and they worshiped snakes as their God, making it a part of the Indian culture as well as in Hinduism. This worshiping of snakes as deities was also followed by the Aryans, who made it even more popular. The mention of snake as God, especially the King Cobras are to be found in Hindu Mythology. According to the chronicles present in Hindu Mythology, the throne of Lord Vishnu is the Shesh Nag, who had hundred heads. Moreover, serpents are considered to be immortal as they change their skin and for this reason, in Hinduism immortality is symbolized by a snake eating its own tail. In Hinduism, snakes are also associated with Lord Shiva and Subramanyam besides Lord Vishnu, thus gaining an auspicious place in the Hindu religion.
Significance of Nag Panchami
The festival of Nag Panchami is an auspicious religious festival for the Hindus and it is celebrated in most part of India with zest. Worshiping living creatures was a part of the Hindu religion and this still persist with the celebration of Nag Pnachami. Although, modernization has touched India, the significance of festivals like Nag Panchami, where snakes are worshipped still exist in the nation. It is a significant festival of the Hindus, which is celebrated on the fifth day after Amavasya in the month of Shraavan of the Hindu calendar. The festival of Nag Panchami is also celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Krishna over the imaginary Kaliya, a grotesque black python that was killed by Krishna in the Yamuna River. This festival is celebrated during the monsoon season because during this time, snakes perpetually comes out of their holes that get suffused with rain-water to search for shelter in gardens and at many times they enter the houses and proves to be dangerous to humans. Owing to this reason, people believe that by offering prayer to Snake God, the danger that might prove to be fatal will fade away.
Celebration of Nag Panchami
The festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the nation and is especially celebrated in the states of West Bengal, Maharastra and the whole of Southern India. On this occasion, newly married women visit their maternal homes and celebrate this day with splendour. Women in villages after worshiping snakes and their idols or images, goes out with their friends and celebrates it by swinging on swings that are drooped on the branches of trees. On this festival, offerings like milk, ghee, water and rice are made in front of the idols or images as well as real snakes. Women worship the serpents by offering milk and honey in many places.