Religious fair in Taudaha on Naag Panchami

Kathmandu –A religious fair has begun at Taudaha in Kirtipur Municipality on the occasion of the Naag Panchami festival today. 


Naag Panchami is the festival dedicated to Naag or the serpant deities. It is ovserved on the fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar calendar. 


Devotees from the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas have thronged the place which is famous as the abode of the Karkotak Naag (one of the eight serpant deities). 


People worship the Naag and make special offerings of the dubo grass, flower and rice grains mixed with red vermillion powder to the Naags on the occasion. Milk, fruits and sweets made of milk are also offered with the lighting of incense sticks and lamp in homage to the serpant deities. 


Naag is taken as the god of water and rain, and as per the religious belief, it is said that the house where the Naag deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. Ot is believed that the worship of the snake goes back to the time beforethe ancient Vedic era. 


Kiran KC, a local said that devotees visit Taudaha until the evening to pay homage to the Naag. Some people also observe fasting on the occasion and only take food in the evening after making offerings to the snake god. 


Religious fairs are also taking place at the nag dahas or ponds where the Naag (snake god) is believed to reside at Naag Pokhari in Naxal, at Dhapakhel in Lalitpur, Siddha Pokhari in Bhaktapur as well as other places across the country. 
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