Hindus are observing the Nagpanchami festival Thursday.
This is a festival dedicated to Naga or the serpent god. It is observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar calendar.
On this day, the head of the family pastes a picture of the Naga or the snake god above the main door of the house and offers worship to the serpent deity with a belief that pasting the picture of the Naga deity on the doorway of houses provides protection from thunder bolt, lightning, fire and also attacks by snakes and scorpions.
The Naga is taken as the god of water and rain, and as per the religious belief, it is said that the house where the Naga deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity.
Various ancient Hindu scriptures like the Garuda Purana, Skanda Purana, Narad Purana, Bhabishya Purana and Baraha Purana mention about the worship of the Naga. Besides the Hindus, followers of Budhhism and Jainism also worship the Naga. The eight different Nagas mentioned in the scriptures are the Ananta, Basuki, Padma, Mahapadma, Takshaka, Kuleer, Karkata and Shankha.
People make offerings of dubo grass, milk and the paste of rice grains, red vermilion powder and yogurt known as akshata to the Naga deity. Devotees offer special pooja at the shrines dedicated to the Naga deity by offering rice pudding, special bread cooked in ghee etc.
On the occasion of Nagpanchami festival, special religious fairs also take place at Nagapokhari of Naxal and Taudaha, Kathmandu; Nagadaha of Dhapakhel, Lalitpur; Siddhapopkhari of Bhaktapur; Panauti of Kavre and many other places in the country.
