Nag Panchami
नाग पञ्चमी
August 17, 2026 · Bhadra 1, 2083 BS
Nationwide
Plan a trip around Nag PanchamiHistory & origin
Serpent worship predates organized Hinduism in the Kathmandu Valley, tied to indigenous beliefs that Nagas control groundwater, lakes and rainfall, and that offending them causes drought, floods or illness. The valley's own founding myth holds that it was once a great lake drained by Manjushri, leaving the Nagas as its original custodians — a belief still reflected in the many Naga shrines at valley water sources.
How it’s celebrated
Households paste pictures of serpents, often cut from paper, above their front doors for protection, and offer milk, rice and flowers at Naga shrines, wells and ponds. In agricultural communities, the day doubles as a plea for adequate monsoon rain rather than destructive flooding.
Tips for visitors
A household-level, low-key observance for outsiders to notice — the serpent images pasted above doorways are the most visible sign of the day.
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