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 ...