Kathmandu, Aug 21 : Hindus across Nepal are celebrating Nagpanchami festival today with great reverence by worshiping the Naga or serpent god, pasting many pictures of a Naga on the front door of the house and feeding milk to the idol of naga or the real naga as per Hindu tradition.    

This festival is celebrated every year on the fifth day of Shrawan Shukla as per the Lunar calendar. There is a religious belief that is conducted by pasting a picture of a serpent in the door of the house to mark the auspicious day.

It is believed this will avoid harm from snakes and scorpions, as well as from the incidents of fire, lightning and other kind of bad omens according to Prof Dr Debmani Bhattarai, a theologian and a member of the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee.

The practice of Naga worship is believed to have started from the Vedic period. According to Vedic beliefs, Naga is considered the king of snakes. Naga temples in Kathmandu valley at Nagpokhari, Taudaha and Nagdaha are thronged with devotees on this day.  

Moments of Naagpanchami celebrated today morning, capturd by the camera of SATV on Naagpokhari, Kathmandu:

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