Naga Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated in India, Nepal, and other countries where Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist adherents live. It is observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana (July/August) according to the Hindu calendar. The festival is a traditional worship of Nag (or Naja or Naga) or snakes (which are associated with the mythical Nāga beings) . The worship is offered by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists and involves worshipping images or live cobras.
The festival has a significant place in Hindu mythology, and Indian scriptures such as Agni Purana, Skanda Purana, Narada Purana, and the Mahabharata give details of the history of snakes extolling worship of snakes. On this day, women offer food, laddoos, and kheer to Brahmins, and similar food is also offered to snakes and snake charmers.
Naga Panchami is also a day when Akhara, traditional Indian wrestling gyms, hold special celebrations to honor the mystical symbolism of the snake as a symbol of virility and kundalini energy. The festival is of profound significance in India, and Hindu devotees across the country pay their respects to the Naga Gods during Naga Panchami.
