Naga Panchami-Karnataka

About:

Naga Panchami is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated to honor and worship Nagas (serpent deities) for protection and prosperity. It is observed on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana (July-August). The festival is widely celebrated in India, particularly in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, where people pray to serpent deities to remove negative energies, ward off evil, and protect their families from snake-related misfortune.

Naga Panchami is held to honour the Serpent God. But due to the festive rituals, people tend to catch snakes in the wild and torture the poor creatures. They force them to drink milk, their fangs are forcible taken out to join the rituals of the day. Festival goes can celebrate and enjoy themselves without torturing snakes.It is on the fifth day of the bright half of the Shravan that Naga Panchami, or the festival of snakes, is celebrated. The setting sun is witness to mile-long processions of gaily-decorated bullock carts, cheerfully trundling to the nearby Shiva temple. The excitement and merry-go-round of a fair takes over, lasting well into the night. The snakes that the men had captured from the deep forests the week before can now return to where they came from.

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History:

Importance:

• Cobras are bathed in milk and offered rice as this is thought to offer immunity from their bites.
• Women often partake in early baths of milk and wear colourful saris.
• Pots of milk and flowers are placed next to holes that are believed to contain snakes as an offering of devotion. If a snake actually drinks the milk it is thought to be the ultimate sign of good luck.
• Mansa, the Queen of Snakes, is worshiped in most parts of Bengal during Nag Panchami.
• In the Punjabi region, a large dough snake is created and then paraded around the village. The parade is colourful with plenty of singing and dancing; at the end of the parade the
• snake is buried. Nag Panchami is referred to as "Guga-Navami" in Punjab.

Method of Celebration:

Early Morning Rituals and Cleaning:
Early Morning Rituals and Cleaning: On the morning of Naga Panchami, devotees begin by cleaning their homes, especially the entrances and courtyards. A clean space is considered auspicious and welcoming for the blessings of the snake deities. Puja at Anthills: In some rural areas, anthills, considered homes of the Nagas, are worshipped. People pour milk, offer flowers, and sprinkle turmeric powder on anthills, praying for prosperity and well-being. Some devotees even circumambulate around anthills as a mark of reverence. Observing Fasting and Feasting: Many people observe a fast on Naga Panchami, refraining from consuming certain foods. After the puja, they prepare a special vegetarian meal as an offering, which is then shared with family members. Traditional dishes include rice, milk-based sweets, and special preparations made without garlic or onion.

Rituals:
After all the obeisance is rendered to the goddess and the ritual puja is over, the snakes are put back in the pots and carried in bullock-carts in procession through the 32 hamlets of Shirala village where women eagerly await outside their houses for "darshan" of the sacred cobras. One or two cobras are let loose in front of each house where men and women offer prayers, sprinkle puffed rice, flowers and coins over them, burn camphor and agarbattis and perform "aarti". Girls of marriageable age regard the cobras as blessings of good luck in marriage. Some courageous girls even put their faces near the cobra's dangerous fangs. Behold the wonder the cobras do not bite them!

Culture of Festivities:

Nature Reverence and Earth Worship: Naga Panchami exemplifies the respect that ancient Indian culture holds for all forms of life, especially for serpents, which are symbols of strength, protection, and fertility. The festival occurs during the monsoon season when snakes often emerge from the ground due to increased water levels. As a result, communities pay homage to the Nagas to seek blessings and protection, acknowledging their place in nature’s balance. Symbolism of Snakes in Hindu Mythology: In Hinduism, snakes represent divine power and are closely associated with deities such as Lord Shiva, who wears a snake around his neck, and Lord Vishnu, who reclines on Shesha, the serpent king. Nagas are also considered protectors of water bodies, land, and treasures. During Naga Panchami, this symbolism is celebrated through rituals, mantras, and offerings that reflect these myths and stories, emphasizing respect for the serpents' protective qualities. Community Bonding and Temple Gatherings: The festival fosters community interaction as devotees gather at temples, anthills, and common prayer sites. People from various backgrounds come together to participate in rituals, prayers, and festivities, reinforcing social ties. Major temples like Kukke Subramanya in Karnataka and Mannarasala Temple in Kerala become bustling centers of devotion, attracting thousands of pilgrims who connect through shared faith and traditions.

Nag Panchami is also connected with the following legend of Krishna. Young Krishna was playing with the other cowboys, when suddenly the ball got entangled in the high branch of a tree. Krishna volunteered to climb the tree and fetch the ball. But below the tree there was a deep part of the river Yamuna, in which the terrible snake Kaliya was living. Everybody was afraid of that part of the river.