Nag Panchami is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated with great fervor across India, usually in the month of July or August. The festival is dedicated to the worship of Nagas or serpents, and it falls on the fifth day (Panchami) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Shravan (as per the Hindu calendar).

On this day, devotees offer milk, flowers, and sweets to images or idols of snakes, or to live snakes in some cases. Many visit temples dedicated to snakes and snake gods. In some parts of India, it is common to draw pictures of snakes using a mixture of cow dung, milk, and rice flour on either side of the home’s entrance as a form of worship.

The festival is rooted in Hindu mythology, which features snakes prominently in various roles. For instance, Lord Shiva is often depicted with a snake around his neck and Lord Vishnu rests on the serpent Shesha.

The celebrations and rituals associated with Nag Panchami vary greatly across different regions, but the core idea of venerating and showing respect to snakes remains the same. Through this festival, Indian culture illustrates the importance it places on living in harmony with nature and all creatures.