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Nag Panchami falls on Shukla Paksha Panchami (5th day of waxing moon) in Shravan month. The puja should be performed in the morning hours, ideally before noon. Early morning (after sunrise) is considered the most auspicious time.
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Take an early morning bath after sunrise. Wear clean clothes. Clean the puja area near the main door or in the puja room. If performing puja at a snake anthill (termite mound), go there after bathing.
Draw a serpent image on the wall or a wooden board using turmeric paste (haldi) or sandalwood paste. Traditionally, a five-hooded (panch-phani) or seven-hooded (sapt-phani) serpent is drawn. Alternatively, use a clay Nag idol. Place it on a clean platform with a white or yellow cloth.
Sit before the Nag image. Perform achamana (sip water thrice). Take the sankalpa. Invoke the eight great Nagas by name: Ananta (Shesha), Vasuki, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Shankhapala, and Kulika. These are the Ashta Nagas mentioned in the Puranas.
ॐ नागराजाय नमः
oṃ nāgarājāya namaḥ
Om, salutations to the King of Serpents.
Pour raw milk gently over the Nag image or at its base. This is the primary offering of Nag Panchami. IMPORTANT: Offer milk to the image/idol only — do NOT feed milk to live snakes as it harms them (snakes are lactose intolerant). If worshipping at a snake anthill, pour milk at the entrance.
Offer fresh flowers (white and yellow), durva grass (doob), and sandalwood paste to the Nag image. Apply turmeric and kumkum tilak on the serpent image. Place akshat (unbroken rice) at the base. Light incense sticks and the ghee lamp.
Chant the Nag mantra "Om Nagarajaya Namah" 108 times. Then recite the Nag Gayatri. Recite the names of the eight Naga kings. If you know the Sarpa Sukta from the Atharva Veda, recite it. Pray for protection from serpent-related fears and for the removal of Kaal Sarpa Dosha if applicable.
ॐ नागराजाय नमः
oṃ nāgarājāya namaḥ
Om, salutations to the King of Serpents.
Offer laddoos (especially besan laddoo), kheer (rice pudding), and pua (fried sweet bread) to the Nag deities. These are the traditional naivedya items for Nag Panchami. Place them before the Nag image on a banana leaf or clean plate.
Perform pradakshina (circumambulation) of the Nag image three times. Do a full namaskara (prostration). Pray that the Nag Devtas protect your home from snakes and poisonous creatures. Distribute the prasad (laddoo, kheer) to family members and neighbors. Apply turmeric tilak on the foreheads of all family members.