A religious fair has begun at Taudaha in Kirtipur Municipality on the occasion of the Nagpanchami festival today.
Nagpanchami is the festival dedicated to Naag or the serpant deities. It is observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar calendar.
Devotees from the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas have thronged the place which is famous as the abode of the Karkotak Nag (one of the eight serpent deities).
People worship the Nag and make special offerings of the dubo grass, flower and rice grains mixed with red vermilion powder to the Nags on the occasion. Milk, fruits and sweets made of milk are also offered with the lighting of incense sticks and lamp in homage to the serpent deities.
Naag is taken as the god of water and rain, and as per the religious belief, it is said that the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. It is believed that the worship of the snake goes back to the time before the ancient Vedic era.
Religious fairs are also taking place at the nagdahas or ponds where the Nag (snake god) is believed to reside at Nag Pokhari in Naxal, at Dhapakhel in Lalitpur, Siddha Pokhari in Bhaktapur as well as other places across the country.
