Nag Panchami Festival
Nagapanchami – The snake is worshipped during Nag Panchami festival all over India because they protect our farmers. Devotees Offer Milk to Snakes to Mark Hindu Festival.
Naga Panchami is a traditional hindu festival on which the worship of snakes or serpents observed by Hindus throughout India, Nepal and other countries where Hindu adherents live. The Naga Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day – Panchami thithi of bright half of Lunar month of Shravana, according to the Hindu calendar.
People worship snakes by offering milk and doing Puja. Snakes are worshipped since Vedic eras as they protect crops from getting damaged by rats and other rodents.
On the Nag Panchami day Naga, cobras, and snakes are worshipped with milk, sweets, flowers, lamps and even sacrifices. Images of Naga deities made of silver, stone, wood, or paintings on the wall are first bathed with water and milk and then worshipped with the reciting of the following mantras.
Fast is observed on this day and Brahmins are fed. The piety observed on this day is considered a sure protection against the fear of snake bite. At many places, real snakes are worshipped and fairs held. On this day digging the earth is taboo as it could kill or harm snakes which reside in the earth.