17 अगस्त
Nag Panchami
Worship of the serpent gods, seeking protection from snakes and their blessings
History
Nag Panchami falls on Shravan Shukla Panchami, honouring the serpent deities — especially Sheshnag, Vasuki, and Takshak. In Indian culture, serpents are associated with protecting crops and the earth's fertility, alongside their close ties to Shiva (who wears a serpent around his neck) and Vishnu (who reclines upon Sheshnag).
Significance
Special prayers are offered on this day for protection from snakebite and to remedy Kaal Sarpa Dosha. In agricultural regions, it is also linked to protecting crops.
Puja Vidhi
Offer milk, turmeric, and rice before an image or clay figure of a serpent deity. Symbolic worship using a clay idol, rather than any interaction with a live snake, is the more appropriate and widely recommended practice today.
Muhurat
Morning worship during the Panchami tithi is considered auspicious; check the Panchang for exact timing.
Check today's Panchang →Do's & Don'ts
✅ Do
- • Offer milk and turmeric to the serpent deity
- • Perform symbolic worship using a clay serpent idol
❌ Don't
- • Capturing, confining, or harming live snakes is both against tradition and illegal
- • Traditionally, digging the earth or ploughing is avoided on this day