Nag Panchami- West Bengal, Maharashtra
Nag Panchami is an important Hindu festival that is celebrated in all most all over India on the fifth day of the moonlit -fortnight in the month of Shravan in July/ August. This is the rainy season and is the time when serpents invariably come out of their holes. According to mythology, Lord Krishna had conquered Naga Kalia and put an end to his evil deeds on Naga Panchami. In Jainism and Buddhism snake is regarded as sacred having divine qualities and according to a legend it is believed that Cobra snake had saved the life of Lord Buddha and protected the Jain Muni Parshwanath. In the caves of Ajanta and Ellora the images of the rituals of the snake worship are also found.
Traditionally married women and girls wake up early in the morning take head bath and arrange the things that are necessary for the puja. They reach the nearest Ant hill and pray to the snake God by offering milk for the wellness of their brothers and family. This festival is like a Raksha Bandhan in south India. If there is no ant hill at nearby places then the Puja and milk is offered to the statues of the snakes erected in the nearby temples. A portion of the milk from the puja is taken back home and is distributed to every one at home as a prasadam. In some parts of South India the figures of snakes are drawn with red sandalwood paste on wooden boards or clay images of snakes colored yellow or black are purchased. These are then worshipped and offered milk.
Nag Panchami is celebrated mostly in rural parts of India. The grandest Nag Panchami celebrations are held in Baltis Shirale village that is about 400 km from Mumbai. On this occasion people of the village dance to the tunes of music carrying a snake pot on their head and walk in a procession to the sacred temple of Amba where they offer worship to the deity. In Bengal and few parts of Assam and Orissa the queen serpent is worshiped on this occasion. In Punjab Nag Panchami is popularly known as Guga - Navami. On this occasion huge snake shaped dough which is kneaded from the contribution of flour and butter from every house hold. Then this dough snake is carried in the form of a procession up to the main square of the village where the religious rites are performed and the celebrations ends with the burial of the dough snake. In Kerala this festival is celebrated with great devotion in many snake temples that exists in the state. The Nagaraja Temple in Kerala is one such place where elaborate worship of the snake god can be seen with the rituals associated with this occasion. Other popular places where the Nag Panchami is celebrated with great devotion and faith include the Adiesha Temple in Andhra Pradesh, Nagathamman Temple in Chennai and Hardevja Temple in Jaipur.
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