Kathmandu : Today, according to tradition, the Nag Panchami festival is being celebrated by worshiping and paying homage to the serpent deity by placing its image at the home’s main entrance.
This festival is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Shravan. Due to the occurrence of an extra month (Adhik Maas) in the month of Saun, this year the festival falls in the month of Bhadra as per the lunar calendar.
By placing the image of the serpent, snakes, serpents, and other reptiles in the house, along with the belief that they bring no harm or danger, this ritual continues throughout the year. According to Pradeep Dev Mani Bhattarai, a scholar of religious studies and a member of the Nepal Panchang Determination Committee, this belief also extends to protection from fire, clouds, and thunder.
The tradition of Nag Puja dates back to Vedic times. According to Vedic belief, the Nagas are considered the rulers of serpents. Since snakes are said to suffer from scarcity of water, worshipping them is believed to bring them happiness and abundance of water.
As mentioned in the Baraha Puran, there is a conversation between Nagraj (King of Snakes) and Lord Brahma on the fifth day of the bright half of Shravan. This interaction has contributed to the popularity of Nag Puja on this day.”
Please note that this translation is provided for informational purposes and may not capture all nuances of the original text.