Kathmandu, August 17: Nag Panchami, an important Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of snakes, is being observed across Nepal today with religious devotion.
On the occasion, devotees traditionally place images of snakes above the main entrance of their homes and worship them by offering milk, rice grains, flowers, sacred grass and other ritual items.
Nag Panchami is observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Shrawan. According to religious belief, worshipping Nag Devata, the serpent deity, protects people from fear of snakes and brings peace, happiness and prosperity to the household.
Various snake shrines and temples in the Kathmandu Valley have witnessed a large number of devotees since early morning. Special prayers and religious activities are being held at places including Nag Pokhari, Taudaha and Nag Daha.
The festival is also viewed from an environmental perspective, as snakes play an important role in maintaining ecological balance. Snakes found in agricultural fields help control rodents and other pests, contributing to the protection of crops and the wider ecosystem.
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