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The festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated with great reverence and enthusiasm on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Sawan Month. This year, in 2025, this special festival of Nag Panchami will be celebrated on August 4, Sunday. This festival is the day to express gratitude to snakes and to please snakes, because in Hinduism, serpents are considered extremely sacred.
Why are milk offered to serpents?
On the day of Nag Panchami, there is a deep religious and mythological background to offer milk to Nag deities. Many stories are prevalent behind it:
Sea churning: According to the prevailing beliefs, when Halahal poison came out during the sea churning, Lord Shiva drank it to save the universe. Due to the effect of this poison, his throat turned blue, and the serpents worn the poison located in his neck. At that time the serpents felt a lot of heat and pain. To calm his suffering, the gods offered milk to him, which gave him coolness. Since then, this practice has been going on that on the day of Nag Panchami, they are happy to offer milk to the serpents and maintain their grace.
Lord Shiva’s makeup: Lord Shiva is very dear to the serpent and he holds the serpents like Vasuki Nag around his neck. One way to please the serpents is also to please Lord Shiva, and this is done by offering milk on Nag Panchami.
Protect from snake bite: It is believed that worshiping Nagas on the day of Nag Panchami and offering milk to them gives freedom from Kaal Sarp Dosha and there is no fear of snake bite in life.
Religious importance of Nag Panchami:
Nag Panchami is not only a festival of offering milk to the serpents, but also has its own special religious and astrological significance.
Prosperity and child attainment: Worship of serpents is considered auspicious for wealth, prosperity and children.
Prevention of negative powers: It is believed that worshiping serpents resides in positive energy in the house and negative powers stay away.
Lord Shiva’s grace: Nag is also a symbol of Shiva, so Lord Shiva is also pleased by worshiping Nagas on Nag Panchami and fulfills the wishes of the devotees.
Kaal Sarp Yoga Peace: People who have Kaal Sarp Yoga in their horoscope, they can make peace of this defect by offering special worship on the day of Nag Panchami.
On this day, devotees keep a fast, make pictures or idols of Nag deities and worship them duly, chant mantras and offer them raw milk, pudding, curd etc.