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Nag Panchami 2026: Date, Puja Vidhi & Muhurat

When is Nag Panchami 2026 — Monday, 17 August. The puja muhurat and vidhi, the twelve Nagas, the Mahabharata story, and why snakes must never be given milk.

Sanskrit Kala29 July 20264 min read
त्योहार · व्रतअनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं❀ संस्कृत कला
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Nag Panchami is the festival on which serpents are honoured during the month of Sawan. It falls on Shravana Shukla Panchami, and in 2026 that is Monday, 17 August. There is a happy coincidence this year — it lands on a Sawan Somwar, the Monday dedicated to Shiva.

Date & muhurat

Nag Panchami 2026: Monday, 17 August · Shravana Shukla Panchami
Puja muhurat: approximately 6:04 – 8:39 AM (New Delhi)
⚠️ 16 or 17 August? The Panchami tithi begins on 16 August, but the puja is done on the day the tithi is present at sunrise — 17 August. Confirm with your local panchang.

Why serpents are revered

In Indian tradition the serpent is not merely feared — it is held in genuine reverence, for three reasons:

  • Shiva's ornament: the serpent Vasuki coils at Lord Shiva's throat. Naga worship is bound up with devotion to Shiva.
  • Vishnu's couch: Lord Vishnu reclines upon Shesha Naga.
  • The farmer's ally: snakes eat the rodents that destroy crops. In an agrarian society, that gratitude was only natural.

The story — how Astika saved the Nagas

The Mahabharata tells that King Parikshit died of a bite from the serpent Takshaka. To avenge him, his son Janamejaya began a sarpa-yajna — a snake sacrifice — and with each offering the serpents were drawn helplessly into the fire.

Then came the sage Astika, whose own mother was of the Naga lineage. Moved by his learning and his words, Janamejaya stopped the sacrifice, and the serpents were spared. Tradition holds that the day was Shravana Shukla Panchami — which is why it became the festival of the serpents' protection.

A second, popular story

Krishna's subduing of the serpent Kaliya in the Yamuna is also linked to this festival — a victory over harm, but one that spares life. Krishna did not kill Kaliya; he reformed him and let him go.

The twelve principal Nagas

#Naga#Naga
1Ananta7Dhritarashtra
2Vasuki8Takshaka
3Shesha9Kaliya
4Padmanabha10Pushpaka
5Kambala11Pingala
6Shankhapala12Shankha

Puja vidhi

  1. Bathe in the morning and wear clean clothes.
  2. At the main doorway or in the place of worship, form a serpent shape from clay or cow dung — or simply place a picture or image of the Naga deity.
  3. Offer raw milk, water, turmeric, roli and akshat (unbroken rice) upon it.
  4. Present durva grass, flowers and a bhog of puffed rice or kheer.
  5. Light a lamp and incense, and listen to the Nag Panchami story.
  6. Performing Rudrabhishek at a Shiva temple is considered especially fruitful — particularly this year, since it is a Sawan Somwar.

अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्।
शङ्खपालं धृतराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा॥

Naga Stuti

Meaning: Salutations to Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka and Kaliya. Remembering them is believed to dispel the fear of serpents.

🐍 One important request — never give milk to a live snake

This is the biggest misconception attached to the festival, and it is worth stating plainly:

  • Snakes cannot digest milk. They are not mammals; forcing milk on them harms their lungs and digestion and is frequently fatal.
  • Snakes shown by street handlers are usually hungry, dehydrated and injured. The custom, practised this way, causes real suffering.
  • Capturing or displaying snakes is illegal in India.

This is the correct tradition

Scripturally, the worship is of an image, picture or clay figure of the Naga — offer the milk to that. The truest worship of the serpent deity is its protection, not its torment. If you find a snake, do not kill it — call the forest department or a trained rescuer. That is the real spirit of this festival.

Save the puja vidhi as a PDF

Reading from a phone during puja is awkward. Save this whole article — muhurat, puja vidhi, the twelve names and the Naga Stuti — as a PDF, or print it out.

Choose “Save as PDF” in the print window.

Related reading

Nag Panchami teaches that every creature in nature is worthy of reverence. Har Har Mahadev. 🙏

Frequently asked questions

Is Nag Panchami 2026 on 16 or 17 August?

Nag Panchami 2026 falls on Monday, 17 August. The confusion arises because the Panchami tithi begins on 16 August, but the puja is performed on the day the tithi is present at sunrise — 17 August. Confirm with your local panchang.

What is the shubh muhurat for Nag Panchami puja?

The morning muhurat runs approximately 6:04 AM to 8:39 AM (New Delhi). Because it depends on sunrise, the timing shifts by city.

Why is Nag Panchami celebrated?

It is a day of gratitude to the serpent deities and a prayer for protection. In the Mahabharata, the sage Astika halted King Janamejaya's snake sacrifice on this day and saved the Nagas. Serpents are also Shiva's ornament and the farmer's ally.

Should you give milk to a live snake?

No. Wildlife experts are clear that snakes cannot digest milk — forcing it on them is harmful and often fatal. Capturing or displaying snakes is also illegal in India. Tradition itself prescribes worshipping an image, picture or clay figure of the Naga; offer the milk to that.

Who are the twelve principal Nagas?

Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka, Kaliya, Pushpaka, Pingala and Shankha — together called the Dvadasha Nagas, remembered on Nag Panchami.

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