NAG PANCHAMI - Gudiya Fest

King Parikshit was killed by the serpent king Takshak. His son Janamejaya decided to avenge the death of his father, so he had a yajna performed in order to decimate the serpent race. Sage Astika arrived there on Shravan Shukla Panchami, the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month Sawan (July/August), and stopped him from sacrificing snakes. That day has since been observed as Naga Panchami, a festival of worshipping the deity Nag. In some other states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Nag Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the waning moon in the same month. Many people observe fast and offer prayers to please the deity Snake. They worship the god serpent by offering milk, kheer, flowers, etc., in the belief that it would keep their families safe from snake bites.

Serpents have a very important role in our mythology. The powerful king of snakes, Nag Vasuki, who resides on the neck of Mahadev, coiled around Mount Mandara as the rope of a churning rod and made it possible for Devas and Asuras to churn the sea. Naga Panchami is celebrated at almost all the Shiva temples, with Shravan being the month of Lord Shiva and with Nag Vasuki being dear to him. According to Garuda Purana, 66 Nag Panchami those who worship snakes on Nag Panchami day enjoy good luck and prosperity. Narayana goes to yogic sleep on Sheshnag in the sea of milk. His sacred sleep symbolises the withdrawal of energy after the universe has completed a cycle of creation and preservation, and it is time for its dissolution and renewal. Sheshnag or Anantnag represents eternity. Shesh means that which remains. That is to say, Sheshnag remains even when everything else ceases to exist, or he is unaffected by Nirmaan and Pralay. And the sea of milk symbolises the blissful, eternal, and unchangeable cosmos beyond the universe.

In our golden years of childhood, Shrawan was considered to be the pleasantest month of the year. Our elders used to make a swing, hanging from the branch of an old banyan tree in the front yard. We took turns on it, swinging higher and higher the whole day, and in the evenings we would leave it for women to enjoy it while singing Kajari folk songs: “Jhula pada kadam ki dali, Jhulen Krishna Murari naay.” We used to celebrate Nag Panchami or Gudiya Festival by beating dolls with reeds and taking part in a wrestling match in the evening. Women would apply different Menhadi design patterns on their hands and feet. How happy were those days!

Greetings

The earth is on the hood of Shesh;
Shri Hari rests on the great snake.
Vasuki makes Lord Shiv look great,
In the churning sea, a key role he played.
We worship Nag on Nag Panchami,
So, our homes will come, Ma Laxami
Happy Nag Panchami, everyone!


We love ourselves because what we are is ours.
We love our family because they are ours.
We love our home, our schools, our nation,
The land, the hills, the air, and the ocean.
We love the sun, the moon, and the sky,
For they give us life and keep our spirits high.
But if it were not for Shesh, nothing would exist,
For he holds Hari, of the universe, who consists.
May Lord Vishnu and God Sheshnag shower you with prosperity, peace, and power!
Happy Nag Panchami!


May the blessings of Shesh and Vasuki
Protect you, your friends and family,
Grant all of you long and happy lives
On this divine day of Nag Panchami!


Uplifting Words

You can never be too old to have a dream and to make it come true.

Someone who think they are always right
Fail to learn anything throughout their life.

Throw down the heavy burdens of the past and future when they make it impossible for you to carry the tiny present.

       An Excerpt from "Festivals with Poetic Greetings"

Note:

Know about your religious festivals, national holidays, and international days, each explained in only one or a maximum of three paragraphs. Each chapter contains poems for best wishes and motivational quotes as well. Shop the digital or physical edition online.