Detailed Information about Nag Panchami Festival & Its Importance

India is home to some of the most diverse and peculiar festivals in the whole world. Out here one finds a reason to celebrate almost anything and everything that exists in the world. From religion to nature to human and cosmic forces, there is a festival for all. One such special festival is the Nag Panchami where the Hindus worship the Naga (Cobra snake) and offer them milk and other offerings. The cobra is sacred in Hinduism because it forms a garland around the neck of Lord Shiva. Also the Nagas are considered as the rulers of Patal Loka or the area underneath the ground. According to Legend the Nagas were the Grand child of Kashyapa, the son of Brahma. It is celebrated in the month of Shraavana, on the fifth day after amavashya or the no moon night. The Hindus are strong believers of forces of nature. They consider nature as goddess and offer their devotion to them and the creatures living in them. Nag Panchami is one such way of offering their devotion.

On this day the married women and girls offer puja and offerings to the snake gods and serpent deities. They wake up early in the morning, take bath, and go to the nearest ant hill which is considered as the home of the snake. There they offer the snake gods prayers and offerings of milk. This festival is not only celebrated in India by the Hindus but also in Nepal where there is a large number of Hindu populations. Another legend associated with this festival is that it is observed to celebrate the victory of Lord Krishna over a monstrous black python who posed great threat. This incident happened along the banks of Yamuna River. During this time many pujas are held in different temples and places all across India.