Nag Panchami 2024:  Today i.e. on 9th August, the festival of Nag Panchami is being celebrated across the country. It is customary to celebrate Nag Panchami on the Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha of the month of Sawan. On this day, people go to the temple and worship Bholenath and Nag Devta. Apart from this, on the day of Nag Panchami, people draw the figure of snakes on the wall of their houses and worship them. It is said that by worshiping Nag Panchami, there is never a shortage of wealth and grains in the house and there is no effect of defects like Kaal Sarp. Nag Panchami is also known as Gudiya in many places. On this occasion, people beat the doll. So let us know when and how the tradition of beating the doll on the day of Nag Panchami started.

Why are dolls beaten on Nag Panchami?

According to the popular religious story, a boy was a great devotee of Mahadev and he used to go to the temple daily for worship. That boy used to see the snake god there every day. It is said that after going to the temple, the snake used to wrap itself around his feet. One day the boy's sister saw this scene and she became very scared. She thought that the snake might bite her brother, so she beat the snake to death. After this, when the brother told the whole thing to his sister, she started crying calling her mistake a sin. The people present there said that 'snakes' are the form of God. You killed it, that is why you must be punished. This mistake was made by the girl unknowingly, so from today on this day, a doll will be beaten instead of the girl. It is believed that from then on the day of Nag Panchami, the tradition of beating the doll started.

Method of worship of Nag Panchami

• On the day of Nag Panchami, worship all the snakes of the Naga clan.
• Offer worship materials like cow milk, paddy straw, white flowers and incense etc. to the serpent god.
• To please the snake god, chant this mantra 'Om Vakul Nagaya Vidmahe Vishadantaya Dhimahi, Tanno Sarpa: Prachodyat'
• On the day of Nag Panchami, offer milk and water to the idol of the serpent god using a copper vessel.
• If possible, keep a pair of silver snakes in the temple and worship and anoint them.