Naga Panchami (Sanskrit: नागपञ्चमी, IAST: Nāgapañcamī) is a day of traditional worship of nagas (or najas or nags) or snakes (which are associated with the mythical Nāga beings) observed by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists throughout India & Nepal, and other countries where Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist adherents live.

[2][3][4] The worship is offered on the fifth day of bright half of lunar month of Shravana (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar.

[5] Some Indian states, such as Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat, celebrate Naga Panchami on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the same month.

[6] As part of the festivities, a Naga or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting is given a reverential bath with milk and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family.

[7] In the Mahabharata epic, the sage Astika stops King Janamejaya from sacrificing and eventually decimating the serpent race (Sarpa Satra).

This sacrifice was performed by Janamejaya to avenge the death of his father Parikshita, who was killed by Takshaka, the king of the snakes.

[2] According to Hindu Puranas and the Mahabharata, Kashyapa, grandson of the universal creator Lord Brahma, married two daughters of Prajapati Daksha, Kadru and Vinata.

[13] A sacrificial fireplace had been specially erected and the fire sacrifice to kill all snakes in the world was started by a galaxy of learned Brahmin sages.

The sacrifice performed in the presence of Janamejaya was so powerful that it caused all snakes to fall into the Yagna kunda (sacrificial fire pit).

[9] This scared the gods who then appealed to Goddess Manasa, the queen of the snakes, to intervene and resolve the crisis.

[9] According to the Garuda Purana, offering prayers to sa nake on this day is auspicious and will usher good tidings in one's life.

Naga or serpent deities made of silver, stone, wood, or paintings on the wall are first bathed with water and milk and then worshipped with the reciting of the following mantras.

अनंतं वासुकीं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कंबलम् शंखपालं धृतराष्ट्रं च तक्षकं कालियं तथा एतानि नव नामानि नागानाम् च महात्मन: सायंकाले पठेन्नित्यं प्रात:काले विशेषत: तस्य विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवेत् anaṃtaṃ vāsukīṃ śeṣaṃ padmanābhaṃ ca kaṃbalam śaṃkhapālaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca takṣakaṃ kāliyaṃ tathā etāni nava nāmāni nāgānām ca mahātmana: sāyaṃkāle paṭhennityaṃ prāta:kāle viśeṣata: tasya viṣabhayaṃ nāsti sarvatra vijayī bhavet I reverently invoke the nine principle Nag: Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya.

In front of this bowl, a rangoli (coloured design pattern) of snake is created on the floor with a brush made of wood or clay or silver or gold with sandalwood or turmeric paste as the paint.

[14] On this occasion doorways and walls outside the house are painted with pictures of snakes, auspicious mantras (spells) are also written on them.

[19] As it is believed that snakes have more powers than humans and on account of its association with Shiva, Devi, Vishnu and Subramanya, a degree of fear is instilled resulting in deification of the cobra and its worship throughout the country by Hindus.

If in the zodiacal chart of an individual all the seven major planets are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu in the reverse order (anticlockwise) it is said to denote Kalasarpa dosha (Defect due to black snakes), which forebodes ill luck and hardship in an individual's life and therefore appeased by offering worship to the snakes on Naga Panchami day.

Nagapur was the homeland of 'Naga' people who embraced Buddhism, supported it with great efforts in its early period, and propagated it throughout India.

Another important event held on this occasion is an arduous trekking pilgrimage known as Nagadwar Yatra to Pachmarhi.

[21][22] In north western India, in cities such as Benares, it is the time when Akharas (venues of wrestling practice and competitions) as part of Naga Panchami celebrations are bedecked; on this occasion the ahkaras are cleaned up thoroughly and walls painted with images of snakes, priests preside, and the gurus are honoured along with the sponsors.

[16] As in the rest of the country, the Naga Panchmi is celebrated in Western India and is known as the Ketarpal or Kshetrapal, meaning, a protector of his domain.

[26] Within the fort, at one corner, there is a small square tower dedicated to Bhujang Naga (snake god), who in folklore is said to have been the brother of SheshNaga.

[26] The Snake Temple was also built at the time of the fortification of the hill during Deshalji I's reign and provided with a chhatri.

[16] In South India, snake is identified with Subramanya (Commander of the celestial army) and also with Shiva and Vishnu.

Women decorate the anthill with turmeric paste and vermillion and sugar mixed with wheat flour.

In Maharashtra, they go round the anthill in a worship mode five times singing songs in praise of snake gods.

A shrine is normally established for snake god at the southwest corner of the ancestral house, along with temple for the para-devata.

Sindhis, ethnic group found predominantly in Pakistan, celebrate Naga Panchami by honouring Gogro, a mythical character that protects against snake bites.