NEPAL: In Nepal, crowds of devotees gathered at the renowned Naag Pokhari on Monday, a sacred pond dedicated to the serpent deity, as the nation joyously observes the Naag Panchami festival. Positioned adjacent to the former royal palace in Kathmandu, the pond features a brass idol of the serpent deity. Devotees offer prayers, seeking protection and tranquility to avert potential calamities.

The Naag Panchami festival is an annual event occurring on the fifth day of Shrawan Shukla in accordance with the lunar calendar. Tracing its origins to the Vedic period, the tradition of serpent veneration hails from Vedic beliefs, where the Naga is esteemed as the sovereign of serpents. At the Naag Pokhari in Naxal, Kathmandu, offerings such as scutch grass, flowers, and rice grains mixed with red vermilion powder are presented, alongside milk, fruit, and milk-based sweets. This ritual is accompanied by the illumination of incense sticks and lamps dedicated to the deities.

Moreover, Naag Panchami is not only recognized as a festival but also as a means to fortify the connection between humanity and the environment. On this specific day, farmers refrain from tilling or plowing their fields; instead, they craft idols of the deity from the very mud of their fields. The serpentine deity is also revered as the god of water and rain. According to religious belief, it is said that a household inhabited by the Naag deity experiences affluence and prosperity.

The origin story of this time-honored festival is rooted in an ancient tale. In times of yore, a farmer had inadvertently plowed his field on Nag Panchami, leading to the demise of a serpent family. In response, the surviving serpent vowed to avenge its kin by exterminating the farmer's entire family. Only the farmer's daughter survived and got married. When the serpent sought revenge at the daughter's residence, it observed her worshiping the serpent deity. Touched by her devotion, the bereaved serpent bestowed blessings upon the girl, thus bringing the cycle of vengeance to a close.

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