Nag Panchami is an annual Hindu festival celebrated during the holy month of Shravan

Nag Panchami is an annual Hindu festival celebrated during the holy month of Shravan, on the fifth day (Panchami) of the waxing phase of the moon.

On this day, devotees worship snakes, particularly the Nagas, and offer prayers to seek protection, prosperity, and well-being.People across India observe the festival with great devotion by performing special Nag pujas, observing fasts, visiting snake temples, and offering milk and flowers to serpent deities.

The celebrations vary across regions, with different communities following their own customs and rituals passed down through generations.In this blog, we look at the dates, beliefs, rituals, and traditions associated with Nag Panchami 2026 to understand why it is spiritually important among Hindus.

Nag Panchami 2026: Dates and Timings

Here is a table that provides the details of Naga Panchami dates and timings for 2026*. OccasionDate and TimingNag Panchami Date17 August 2026 (Monday)Panchami Tithi Begins16 August 2026, 04:52 PMPanchami Tithi Ends17 August 2026, 05:00 PMNag Panchami Puja Muhurat05:51 AM to 08:29 AMMuhurat Duration2 Hours 10 MinutesRahu Kaal07:30 AM to 09:12 AM*In Gujarat, Nag Panchami 2026 is on Tuesday, 1st September

Story of Nag Panchami

The following events help us understand the mythological significance behind observing Naga Panchami:Samudra Manthan and Vasuki’s RoleAt the beginning of cosmic mythology, Vasuki, the serpent king, played a key role in the Samudra Manthan.

He was used as the churning rope between gods and demons, wrapped around Mount Mandara, symbolising how serpents became part of creation and cosmic balance.Lord Shiva and Serpent SymbolismAfter the ocean churned, Hindu tradition describes Lord Shiva wearing serpents around his neck

This represents his control over poison, fear, and death, and shows how serpents became symbols of protection and spiritual energy in divine form.King Parikshit and TakshakaIn the later period of the Mahabharata, Takshaka, a powerful serpent king, bit King Parikshit.

This incident led to his death and became one of the major causes of deep anger in the Kuru dynasty against serpents.King Janamejaya’s Sarpa SatraTo take revenge for his father Parikshit’s death, King Janamejaya performed a massive snake sacrifice called Sarpa Satra, aiming to destroy all serpents from his kingdom.

The ritual caused widespread destruction among the Nagas.Sage Astika and the End of the SacrificeThe practice of sacrificing snakes ended when Sage Astika arrived and appealed to King Janamejaya to stop the ritual.

Through his wisdom, calm reasoning, and prayers, he convinced the king that the destruction of all serpents was unjust.

Respecting his words, Janamejaya halted the sacrifice, bringing peace between humans and Nagas