Nagpanchami Today
Hindus are observing the Nagapanchami festival today
as per the time-honoured tradition.
Nagapanchami
is the festival dedicated to Naga or the serpent god. It is observed on the
fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar
calendar. On
this day, the head of the family pastes a picture of the Naga or the snake god
above the main door of the house and offers worship to the serpent deity.
The Naga is taken as the god of
water and rain, and as per the religious belief, it is said that the house
where the Naga deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. It is believed that the worship of
the snake goes back to the time before the ancient Vedic era. There is also the belief that
pasting the picture of the Naga deity on the doorway of houses provides
protection from thunder bolt, lightning and fire as well as attacks by snakes
and scorpions.
Various ancient Hindu scriptures
like the Garuda Purana, Skanda Purana, Narad Purana, Bhabishya Purana and
Baraha Purana mention about the worship of the Naga. Besides the Hindus,
followers of Budhhism and Jainism also worship the Naga. The eight different
Nagas mentioned in the scriptures are the Ananta, Basuki, Padma, Mahapadma,
Takshaka, Kuleer, Karkata and Shankha.
People
make offerings of the dubo grass, milk and the paste of rice grains, red
vermillion powder and yoghurt known as akshata to the Naga deity. They also
light incense sticks. Devotees offer special pooja at the shrines dedicated to
the Naga deity by offering rice pudding, special bread cooked in ghee etc.
On the occasion of Nagapanchami
festival, special religious fairs also take place at Nagapokhari of Naxal and
Taudaha, Kathmandu; Nagadaha of Dhapakhel, Lalitpur; Siddhapopkhari of
Bhaktapur; Panauti of Kavre and many other places in the country.
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