नागपञ्चमि Nagpanchami – the day to Worship the Serpent God Naga

नागपुजा श्रावण महिनाको दोस्रो पञ्चमीको दिनमा मनाहिंन्छ |
On the fifth day of the lunar bright fortnight in the month of Shrawan (July-August) in the Vikram calendar, Nepalis celebrate the day of the Serpent God, Naga that brings rains.

Every Hindu household puts a poster of Naga above their main door, and makes offerings to it on this day, Naga Panchami. Naga God believed to bring rains and also saves the house from the lightning.

So the legend goes, a Naga God called Karkot Naga went to reside at Taudaha after God Manjusri drained the water from the Kathmandu Valley Lake. Hence, an annual festival is held at Taudaha and at Nagapokhai in Kathmandu to honor the Naga devta .

Nagas were the tutelary gods of Licchavis that ruled Nepal for about 500 years from the fifth to ninth century. They set the tradition of worshipping Nagas, and celebrating the Naga Panchami.