Nag Panchami in 2024 will be celebrated on Friday, August 16, 2024. This festival falls on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana, according to the Hindu calendar. It is a day dedicated to the worship of Nagas (serpents) and holds significant cultural and religious importance in various parts of India.

 

Nag Panchami Puja: Rituals and ProceduresTop of Form

Nag Panchami Puja is a significant ritual performed to honor and worship the serpent deities. The puja is believed to bring protection from snake bites, blessings for prosperity, and overall well-being. Here are the steps and customs typically involved in Nag Panchami Puja:

Preparation for Nag Panchami Puja

  1. Clean the House: Ensure the house is cleaned and purified. Many people decorate the entrance with rangoli (colorful patterns) and place a small idol or image of a snake deity.
  2. Puja Thali Preparation: Prepare a thali (plate) with the following items:
    • Milk
    • Flowers (especially jasmine and marigold)
    • Turmeric powder (haldi)
    • Vermilion (sindoor)
    • Sandalwood paste
    • Rice grains
    • Sweets (like kheer or laddoo)
    • Incense sticks (agarbatti)
    • A small diya (oil lamp)

Puja Procedure

  1. Invocation of Lord Ganesh: Begin the puja by invoking Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, for a smooth and successful ritual.
  2. Worship of Snake Deities: Place the idol or image of the serpent deity on a clean surface. If you don't have an idol, you can draw a snake figure using turmeric and vermilion paste on a wooden plank or on the ground.
  3. Offering Milk: Pour milk over the snake idol or image as an offering. This is a symbolic gesture to seek the blessings of the serpent deities.
  4. Applying Turmeric and Vermilion: Apply a mixture of turmeric and vermilion to the snake idol or image.
  5. Flower Offerings: Offer flowers, especially jasmine and marigold, to the deity.
  6. Offering Sweets and Fruits: Place sweets, fruits, and other food items in front of the deity as a mark of respect and devotion.
  7. Lighting Incense and Diya: Light incense sticks and a diya (oil lamp) to purify the surroundings and invoke divine blessings.
  8. Aarti: Perform the aarti (a ritual of waving a lighted lamp) while singing devotional songs or chanting prayers dedicated to the snake deities.
  9. Prasad Distribution: After the puja, distribute the prasad (offered sweets and fruits) to family members and neighbors.
  10. Additional Customs
  11. Fasting: Many devotees observe a fast on Nag Panchami, consuming only milk and fruits.
  12. Visiting Temples: Visiting temples dedicated to serpent deities or Shiva temples is a common practice.
  13. Feeding Brahmins: In some regions, feeding Brahmins (priests) and donating food and clothes is considered auspicious.
  14. Respect for Snakes: In rural areas, people often feed milk to live snakes, especially cobra, with the help of snake charmers.
  15. Nag Panchami Puja is a way to show reverence to the serpent deities and seek their protection and blessings. The rituals may vary slightly depending on regional traditions, but the essence remains the same: honoring and respecting the natural world and its creatures