Naga Panchami Date 2024: Puja Time and Story

Naga Panchami Date 2024: Unveil Hidden Facts on Nag Panchami – GHdays.in

Naga Panchami, a revered day in Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions, is dedicated to the worship of nagas, the mystical serpent beings. This observance takes place on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Shravana (July/August) in accordance with the Hindu calendar. Certain regions in India, such as Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, opt to celebrate Naga Panchami on the dark half (Krishna Paksha) of the same month.

During the festivities, elaborate rituals involve bathing a deity representing a Naga made from materials like silver, stone, wood, or depicted in paintings with milk to seek their blessings for the well-being of one’s family. Additionally, live snakes, particularly cobras, are venerated on this day, often accompanied by offerings of milk and sometimes with the guidance of a snake charmer.

In the ancient epic Mahabharata, the sage Astika intervenes to prevent King Janamejaya from carrying out a sacrificial ceremony intended to eradicate the entire serpent race (Sarpa Satra). This act of sacrifice was initiated by Janamejaya seeking vengeance for his father Parikshita’s death at the hands of Takshaka, the serpent king. The day when the sage Astika halted the sacrifice coincided with the Shukla Paksha Panchami day in the month of Shravana. It was during this event that the entirety of the Mahabharata was first narrated by the sage Vaisampayana. This significant day has since been commemorated as Naga Panchami.

Naga Panchami Date 2024: Friday, August 9

Naga Panchami 2024 Overview

Festival Name	Naga Panchami
Also Known as	Naga Puja
Observed by	Hindus
Type	Religious
Observances	Veneration of cobras or their images
Date	Shraavana Shukla Panchami
Homepage	Click here

Naga Panchami Date and Time 2024

On Friday, August 9, 2024, Nag Panchami, a significant Hindu festival dedicated to snakes, will be observed. The auspicious Nag Panchami Puja Muhurat, the ideal time for performing rituals, is from 06:18 to 08:52, spanning a duration of 2 hours and 34 minutes. In Gujarat, this special day will be celebrated on Friday, August 23, 2024. The Panchami Tithi, or the fifth day of the lunar month, begins at 12:36 AM on August 9, 2024, and concludes at 03:14 AM on August 10, 2024, marking the end of the festival.

Naga Panchami Date 2024	Friday, August 9
Naga Panchami Date 2025	Tuesday, July 29
Naga Panchami Date 2026	Monday, August 17
Naga Panchami Date 2027	Friday, August 6
Naga Panchami Date 2028	Wednesday, July 26
Naga Panchami Date 2029	Tuesday, August 14
Naga Panchami Date 2030	Sunday, August 4

Is it Nag Panchami today?

Naga Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the waning moon during the Lunar Hindu month of Shravana, typically in July or August. This auspicious day of snake reverence is known for its significance in serpent worship, with Naga referring to cobras or serpents.

Story Behind Nag Panchami

Hinduism and folklore are rich with legends that emphasize the significance of snake worship. As per Hindu scriptures and the Mahabharata epic, Kashyapa, the grandson of Lord Brahma, married two daughters of Prajapati Daksha – Kadru and Vinata. Kadru bore the Naga lineage, while Vinata gave birth to Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god Surya, and Garuda, the magnificent eagle who carried Vishnu. Naga Panchami is a day when Akhara, traditional Indian wrestling schools, hold special festivities to pay tribute to the mystical representation of snakes as symbols of potency and kundalini energy.

History of Naga Panchami

In ancient Indian texts like the Agni Purana, Skanda Purana, Narada Purana, and the Mahabharata, there are detailed accounts of the reverence towards snakes in history. One notable mention is found in the Mahabharata epic, where Janamejaya, the son of King Parikshita from the Kuru dynasty, conducted a snake sacrifice called Sarpa Satra to avenge his father’s death caused by a serpent named Takshaka.

During this sacrificial ritual, a special altar was constructed for the purpose of eliminating all snakes in the world. A group of knowledgeable Brahmin sages initiated the ceremony in the presence of Janamejaya. The power of the ritual was so intense that it compelled all snakes to fall into the sacrificial fire pit. When it was discovered that only Takshaka had managed to evade capture by seeking refuge in the underworld of Indra, the sages intensified their chants to draw both Takshaka and Indra towards the fire.

Witnessing this alarming turn of events, the gods sought assistance from Manasadevi to intervene and resolve the crisis. Manasadevi then instructed her son Astika to approach Janamejaya at the sacrificial site and implore him to halt the Sarpa Satra ritual. Astika, demonstrating his profound knowledge of scriptures, impressed Janamejaya who granted him a boon. Taking this opportunity, Astika pleaded with Janamejaya to cease the snake sacrifice. Despite protests from the participating rishis, Janamejaya, known for never turning down a Brahmin’s request, relented. Consequently, the ritual was stopped, sparing the lives of Indra, Takshaka, and other serpent beings.

This significant event took place on Nadivardhini Panchami, a festival day according to the Hindu Calendar, occurring on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Shravana during the monsoon season. Since then, this day has been commemorated as a festival day for the Naga serpents in gratitude for their salvation. Indra also paid homage to Manasadevi following these events.

As per the Garuda Purana, it is considered auspicious to offer prayers to snakes on this day, promising favorable outcomes in one’s life. This practice is typically followed by providing food to Brahmins.