Hindu

Nag Panchami 2027 नाग पंचमी

Worship of the Serpent Gods

Friday, 6 August 2027

Nag Panchami is a Hindu festival in the monsoon month of Shravan when people worship serpent deities and pray for the safety of their family from snakebite and harm.

How the date is fixed: Shravan Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan. Gujarat observes Nag Pancham on Shravan Krishna Panchami, a different day.

Why Nag Panchami is celebrated

On Nag Panchami Hindus honour the nagas, the serpent deities. Snakes have a special place in Hindu belief. Sheshnag holds the earth and serves as the bed of Lord Vishnu, Vasuki is the snake around Lord Shiva's neck, and Takshak and other nagas appear in many old stories.

The festival falls in the rainy season, when snakes often come out of flooded holes and fields. People pray to the nagas for protection from snakebite. In farming families, the day is also linked to respect for the land, since snakes help control rats that damage crops.

History and story of Nag Panchami

Many stories are tied to this day. According to tradition, Lord Krishna overcame the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna and danced on his hoods, but spared his life when Kaliya surrendered. Devotees remember this victory on Nag Panchami.

The Mahabharata tells how King Janamejaya held a great sacrifice to destroy all snakes, to avenge the death of his father Parikshit by Takshak. A young sage named Astika, whose mother was a naga, came to the sacrifice and persuaded the king to stop it. Tradition holds that this happened on Panchami, and so the day became one of thanks for the safety of the serpents.

How Nag Panchami is celebrated

People draw images of snakes on the walls near the door with turmeric, sandalwood or cow dung, or use clay and silver idols of nagas. They offer milk, flowers, rice, kumkum and sweets to these images. Many visit Nag temples or snake mounds called bambi or valmika. Some families avoid digging the earth, ploughing or cutting vegetables on this day so that no snake is harmed.

Forest departments and wildlife experts advise against feeding milk to real snakes. Snakes cannot digest milk, and captured snakes are often kept hungry and hurt by snake charmers. Offering milk to an idol or image is the safer way to keep the custom.

Important days and moments

Naga images at home (Morning)
Families draw or place images of snakes near the doorway and worship them with milk, flowers and sweets.
Temple visits (Through the day)
Devotees visit Nag temples and snake mounds to offer prayers for protection from snakebite.
Nagchandreshwar darshan (Nag Panchami only)
The Nagchandreshwar shrine at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain opens for darshan once a year on this day.

Nag Panchami across India

In Maharashtra, Battis Shirala in Sangli district is well known for its Nag Panchami tradition. In Karnataka, women pour milk on snake mounds and pray for their brothers. Bengal worships Manasa Devi, the goddess of snakes, in this season. In Ujjain, the Nagchandreshwar temple, located on the top floor of the Mahakaleshwar temple, opens only on Nag Panchami.

In Uttarakhand, Nag Devta temples are part of local faith in Garhwal. The Sem Mukhem temple in Tehri Garhwal district is dedicated to Nag Raja and draws devotees from nearby villages. Gujarat marks Nag Pancham on a different date, in the dark fortnight of Shravan.

Other names and related festivals

Nag Pancham
Naga Panchami

Raksha Bandhan 17 Aug 2027

Frequently asked questions

When is Nag Panchami in 2027?

Nag Panchami falls on Friday, 6 August 2027.

Is Nag Panchami a bank holiday?

The RBI bank holiday lists for 2027 are not out yet; they usually come out in December or January. Each state follows its own list, so check your state's bank holiday page then.

Is Nag Panchami a central government holiday?

No. Nag Panchami is not a holiday for central government offices in 2027.

What are the other names of Nag Panchami?

Nag Panchami is also known as Nag Pancham, Naga Panchami.

Should we feed milk to snakes on Nag Panchami?

No. Snakes cannot digest milk, and wildlife experts say it can harm them. Offer milk to an idol or image of the naga instead.

Why is Nag Panchami celebrated?

Hindus worship serpent deities on this day for protection from snakebite and for family wellbeing. It also recalls stories such as Krishna's victory over Kaliya and Astika saving the snakes.

Is Nag Panchami a holiday?

It is not a central government holiday. Chhattisgarh lists it as an optional holiday in 2026.