Nag Panchami is celebrated on the 5th date of the bright half of the Sawan month. As per astrology, Lord of the 5th Hindu date is snake.  This Nag Panchami day, snakes are worshiped cardinality.

Nag Panchami Muhurat

1. Naga Vrat is observed on the Shravana Shukla Panchami (5th day of the bright half of Shravan month).
2. If Panchami is prevailing for less than three Muhurats on its Tithi and Chaturthi is also less than three Muhurats on the previous day, Vrat must be observed on Chaturthi.
3. It is also assumed that if Chaturthi prevails for more than three Muhurats and then Panchami begins with the ending after the two Muhurats of next day, the fast can be observed on the next day only.

Nag Panchami Fast & Puja Vidhi

1. Eight snakes are considered as the deities of this festival. So, they are worshiped on this day. Their names are Anant, Vasuki, Takshak, Padma, Kuleer, Mahapadma, Karkata, and Shankha.
2. Take one meal on Chaturthi and keep a fast on the next day i.e. Panchami. Dinner can be taken on Panchami after final the fast.
3. For Pooja, place the image or clay idol of snake on the wooden stool.
4. Offer turmeric, rice, vermillion and flowers on Nag Devta.
5. After that, present the mixture of Ghee, raw milk, sugar to the Nag Devta posited over stool.
6. Once the Pooja Procedure is over, do the Aarti of Snake God.
7. You may also give donate to a snake charmer and offer that milk mix to a snake.
8. At the end, the worshippers must listen to the Nag Panchami Katha.

Note: As per the tradition, Nag Panchami is also celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Panchami or Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami in many regions. Due to the difference in traditions and cultures from region to region, this festival is also celebrated during Krishna Paksha at some places.

Nag Panchami Legends

1. As per the Hindu Puranas, son of Lord Brahma, Rishi Kashyap had four wives. According to the beliefs, 1st wife gave birth to Devtas, 2nd one reproduced Garuda, and 4th one brought Daityas (demons) into this world. However, the 3rd one was Kadru who had a connection with Naga Vansh. She had created the Nagas.
2. According to the Puranas, there are two types of serpents? Bhaum and Divya. Divya snakes are Takshak, Vasuki, etc. These are consider as the ones carrying burden of the planet earth and are believed to be as radiant as the fire. If they get violent, it just takes their hiss and sight to burn everything into ashes. For their poison, their no known medicine. However, snakes of the earth with venom in molars are known to be 80 in number.
3. The 8 Nagas — Anant, Takshak, Vasuki, Karkotak, Mahapadma, Padma, Shankhpal, and Kulik — are consider as the best among all the snakes. Among these snakes, 2 are Kshatriyas, 2 are Brahmins, 2 are Vaishya, and 2 are Shudras. Brahmin:  Kulik and Anant, Kshatriya:  Shankhpal and Vasuki, Vaishya:  Mahapadma and Takshak, Shudra: & Karkotak and Padam
4. Janmajeya, the grandson of Arjun and son of Parikshit, had arranged for a Nag Yagya to take vengeance from the snakes and kill their entire clan. It is because his father Parikshit was killed by Takshak snake. In order to protect Nagas, the son of Rishi Jaratkaru, Aastik Muni, had stopped this Yajna. The day when he stopped the Yajna was Shravan Shukla Panchami. He saves Takshak snake and his clan. As per the beliefs, since that day people celebrate Nag Panchami.

Nag Panchami importance

1. As per the Hindu faith, snakes are considered as the deity since pristine times. So, Naga Puja has special importance on the day of Naga Panchami.
2. It is also assumed that the one who worships snakes on this day gets rid of the fear of snakes.
3. People believe that bath and feeding snakes with milk along with worshiping them makes the devotee the recipient of unending divine blessings.
4. This festival is also special for snake charmers because they get money and milk for snakes.
5. Also, there is a ritual of drawing snake on the door of the home. It is assumed to be keeping the home safe with the grace of snakes.

We hope that this piece of knowledge will help you in making the festival of Nagara Panchami even more fruitful.