"Naag Panchami" is a traditional day dedicated to the worship of snakes or serpents (Naag/ Naga/ Naja). As per the Hindu panchang, this revered Hindu festival falls on the fifth (5th) day (Panchami) of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar month of Shravan. The Gregorian calendar marks its occurrence in the month of either July or August. This year, "Naag Panchami" is falling on the 29th of July 2025.
As per “Drik Panchang”, the “tithi” for “Naag Panchami” in 2025 is as follows:
Snakes (Naga) have always been an integral part of our Hindu culture since the Satya Yuga. A very well-known serpent, "Vasuki", the king of all snakes, finds its place around the neck of Lord Shiva. And the contribution of 'Vasuki' in the great "Samudra Manthan" has always been an immense part of the Shastras since time. Another divine serpent in Hindu Dharma is 'Sheshnaag', also called 'Ananta Shesha' or Adi Shesha, symbolising eternity, cosmic balance, and limitless wisdom. Often depicted with a serpentine lower body and multiple crowned heads—each representing unique energies and powers—Sheshnaag is considered the king of all Nagas. He is said to support the universe and all celestial bodies under his vast hoods, embodying stability in the cosmic order. A powerful sacred image illustrating this divine role is that of Lord Vishnu as Padmanabha, “the one with a lotus emerging from his navel,” where Vishnu is seen reclining on Sheshnaag’s coiled body, with the serpent’s hoods forming a protective canopy. This symbolic union between deity and serpent conveys that the universe rests upon unseen forces of wisdom and order. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala is one of the most venerated sites honouring this serene and profound vision.
Hindus believe that as the snakes are associated with the Gods & Goddesses like Shiva, Devi, Vishnu & Subramanya, they have more powers than humans.
In addition to Vasuki and Sheshnaag, Hinduism reveres several other Nagas whose stories are mentioned in sacred Hindu texts. Two of the most notable among them are Taksaka and Kaliya, each representing unique aspects of divine energy, karma, and cosmic balance.
Taksaka, a powerful serpent king, plays a significant role in the Mahabharata. He was the serpent responsible for the death of King Parikshit, leading to the legendary Sarpasatra (snake sacrifice) performed by his son, Janamejaya. Taksaka symbolises the inescapable law of karma — even kings are not immune to the consequences of curses or wrongdoings. Despite being feared, Taksaka is also revered as a guardian of forest realms and a protector of ancient knowledge. On Naag Panchami, offerings are also made to Taksaka to honour his cosmic role and to seek protection from hidden dangers.
Kaliya, on the other hand, is remembered through the sacred tale of Krishna’s divine leela in Vrindavan. Kaliya, a venomous serpent, had poisoned the waters of the Yamuna River, putting the lives of locals and animals at risk. Lord Krishna subdues Kaliya by dancing upon his many hoods, ultimately granting him mercy and asking him to leave the river peacefully. This tale signifies the triumph of divine grace over darkness and ego. On Naag Panchami, many devotees recall this event to remind themselves of the power of surrender and transformation.
Equally significant is Manasa Devi, the serpent goddess worshipped widely in Bengal, Assam, and parts of Odisha. She is believed to be the daughter of Sage Kashyapa and is regarded as the goddess of snakes, fertility, and healing. Devotees pray to her for protection from snake bites and overall well-being. Her legend, especially the tale of her devotee Chand Saudagar, is a powerful example of faith, divine retribution, and maternal strength. On Naag Panchami, many households in Eastern India perform special rituals in her honour, often drawing her symbolic image with natural clay and turmeric.
Even snakes possess connotations with the Moon's nodes in Hindu astrology. The head of the snake is represented by Rahu ("Dragon's head") and its tail by Ketu ("Dragon's tail").
There's also a unique connection between the snakes & Kundalini shakti.
Basically, in Sanskrit, when something is round like a ring or bracelet, it's said to be kundala, so the coiled “reptile” in each of us is known as kundalini.
Kundalini Shakti is often described as a dormant spiritual energy that resides at the base of the spine, and when awakened, it rises through the spinal column, activating the chakras (energy centres) and leading to spiritual enlightenment.
There is actually a symbolic relationship between snakes and Kundalini Shakti as per various spiritual and esoteric traditions.
The snake's coiled form mirrors the dormant state of the Kundalini, and its ascent signifies the transformative journey towards higher consciousness. This symbolism highlights the profound connection between the hidden wisdom represented by snakes and the inner awakening facilitated by Kundalini Shakti.
Various Indian scriptures like Agni Purana, Skanda Purana and Narada Purana mention the significance of Naagas (snakes/ serpents) in the history of Hindu Dharma.
Even the Mahabharata (the great epic) has led the base of this holy day dedicated to 'snakes.'
Basically, Raja Parikshit met death from a snake bite by the Takshak Naag. To take revenge, Janamejaya (the son of King Parikshit of Kuru Vansh) performed a snake sacrifice known as 'Sarpa Satra.' 'Sarpa Satra' was a sacrificial fireplace led by many Brahmin sages (in assistance to Janamejaya) to kill all the snakes in the world. Eventually, when this ceremony started, all the snakes started falling into the Yagna Kunda (fire pit). But there was no effect on Takshak Naag. Then, the Brahmins got to know that he (Takshak) had escaped to Indra Lok seeking his protection. To make Takshak also fall into the fire pit, the Brahmins increased the tempo of reciting mantras. Then, Takshak coiled himself around Indra's cot to stay protected. But the effect of those mantras was so powerful that it dragged Takshak along with Indra Dev himself from the Indra Lok straight towards the fire of Havan Kund.
To this, all the gods appealed to Mansa Devi for helping them. On this, she appealed to her son Astika to go to the Yagya site & stop the Yagya. Then, Astika followed his mother's words & went to Janamejaya. He impressed King Janamejaya with his immense knowledge of Hindu shastras & as a result, Janamejaya granted him to seek a boon. And, Astika requested the King to stop the Sarpa Satra. Hence, Janamejaya had to request all the Brahmins present there to conclude the Yagya. And as a result, the life of Indra, Takshak & other snakes was spared. This event took place on 'Nadivardhini Panchami' (the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Shravana during the monsoon season) as per the Hindu calendar. And since then, this day came to be known as 'Naag Panchami.'
On the same day, Lord Indra had also visited Mansa Devi to worship and thank her.
Garuda Purana says that one who offers prayers to the snakes on 'Nag Panchami' is ushered with good tidings in life.
Other than worshipping Naga, cobras, and snakes, the people also observe fasting on 'Naag Panchami' to consider a sure protection against the fear of a snake bite. On this day, the digging of the earth is also prohibited as it could kill or harm the snakes inside the earth.
'Nag Panchami' is celebrated as 'Bhratru Panchami' in many places, in which the women worship the snakes along with their brothers (Bhratru) to ensure the protection of their brothers from the snakes.
'Nag Panchami' is also known by the names 'Vishari Puja' or 'Bishari Puja' in many parts of India. (Bisha/ Visha meaning - 'poison').
As per “Drik Panchang”,
The regional traditions for celebrating and observing 'Naag Panchami' differ from state to state in India. In some areas, people also draw images of snakes on doorsteps or walls using turmeric or cow dung as a symbolic gesture of welcoming the snake deities into their homes.
Naga Chandreshwar Temple in Ujjain is kept open only on the day of 'Naag Panchami' for the devotees.
Other than India, various other countries with Hindu, Jain and Buddhist adherents like Nepal, Pakistan and many more also celebrate 'Nag Panchami.'
Overall, Naag Panchami is a time of spiritual reflection, cultural significance, and reverence for snakes in Hindu tradition. It fosters a sense of connection with nature and the creatures around us, promoting harmony and respect for all living beings.
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