2018 Nag Panchami Vrat, Puja Date and Auspicious Time

Add as a preferred source on Google

Naag Panchami falls on the fifth day of the fortnight and is dedicated to the worship of snakes. Lord Shiva wears snakes around his neck, and is believed to be the primary deity, worshipped by the snakes as well. Therefore, Lord Shiva is also worshipped on this day. On Naag Panchami, snakes are offered prayers in many regions of the country. Worshipping snakes pleases Lord Shiva as well.

You can visit a Shiva temple on this day. Chant the mantras of Lord Shiva as well as those dedicated to the snakes. Offer dhoop-deep and milk on a Shivalingam. In some areas, Naag Panchami is also known by the name Garuda Panchami.

Important Dates And Auspicious Times For Naag Panchami

It will be celebrated on August 15, Wednesday.
The Panchami tithi begins from 3:27 am on August 15.
The auspicious timings for puja will be from 5:55 am to 8:31 am.
Panchami tithi ends at 1:51 am on August 16, Thursday.

While on other days people are afraid when they see snakes, they are happy to see them on a Naag Panchami day and offer prayers to them. A symbol of Lord Shiva, snakes seen on Naag Panchami indicate that Lord Shiva is pleased with his devotees.

Naag Panchami Provides Protection From Snake Bites

Since it is monsoon during the Shravana month, all the snakes come out because of rain water entering their burrows. And people start offering their prayers to Shiva as well as snakes, to escape from snakebites. People feed the snakes on this special day, which is believed to bring fulfilment in the house. The farmers working in the fields need more protection from the snake bites. Hence the day becomes more important to them. Women therefore, perform the fast for their husbands.

Other Reasons To Observe Naag Panchami

Snakes eat rats and thus they protect the crops. This becomes another reason for worshipping snakes on Naag Panchami, a tradition followed since ages.

Naag Panchami fast along with Sawan Somvar, Mangala Gauri Vrat, Madhushravani are considered very beneficial for newly married women. All these fasts help to remove the fear of snakes and chances of snake bites as well, along with the blessing of a long life for one's husband.

According to one story, there was a couple who had all the comforts and pleasures of life except a child. They were often made fun of. Just the night before one Naag Panchami day, five snakes appeared in the dream of the woman and told her that she will be blessed with a baby boy if she offers prayers to these five snakes. The woman told the story to her husband who told her to draw the images of the snakes that appeared in her dream. The woman drew the images and worshipped them by offering milk to them. The snakes heard their prayers and the couple's wish was granted.