Nag Panchami Festival in India

 

Tomorrow we will celebrate another important Indian festival named as “Nag Panchami” which is related with worship of Nag (Cobra). In India, Snakes are considered as a God. On this occasion all Indians worship snakes (Cobra). Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Especially in villages, an aspect of the celebration involves women swinging on swings hung on the tree branches and the parent of the young married lady gifts her bangles and ornaments.

According to Puranic scriptures, Brahma's son Kashyapa had four wives. The first wife gave birth to Devas; the second to Garudas; the third to Nāgas; and the fourth to Daityas. Nāgas were the rulers of Pātāl-Loka.

The names of the Nine Great Nāgas are Ananta, Vāsuki, Shesha, Padmanābha, Kambala, Shankhapāla, Dhārtarāshtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya

In Indian Puran, it is considered that God Vishnu rests over the bed of coils of Shesha Nag during the intervals of creation. The Nag has three kings, Vassuki, Takshak and Shesha Nag. Shesha nag is said to represent the ‘reminder’ when the universe is destroyed and the power of creation (Lord Vishnu) rests on its coils. The Nagas are dwelling in an underworld, called Nag Lok, which is an immense domain crowed with palaces, houses, towers and pleasure gardens.

According to Indian Puran, Lord Shiva wounds the Cobra or snake around their neck to get cooling against the adverse effect of poison stored in their neck.

On this day of Nag Panchami, cutting of vegetables, making chapatti, frying on the stove, digging the soil etc were prohibited. Hence in many families, women cook the food items only with the help of steam. Early in the morning almost all the women visit the ant hills to worship the god Nag, because in many cases the Nag (Cobra) lives inside the house of ants and at the evening women visit the local temple of Nag or Lord Mahadev and play many types of games. On this day young boys plays kite competition and enjoys the festivals as in many schools and colleges holiday is given on Nag Panchami.

When we look deeply inside this tradition we will find many scientific reasons behind celebrating this festival of Snakes. Snakes are the important part of food chain. A snake helps the farmers by eating the rats and insects from the fields and increases the productivity of the crops. Snakes do not harm or bite any individual unless snake feels unsafe or it is disturbed by human from its natural habitat.

Not only on the day of the Nag Panchami but on everyday it is our duty to protect the Snakes and Cobras. Snakes are part of our Nature and we should live together with harmony.

“Happy Nag Panchami”.