PARV 9 OF 30 · SAWAN
नाग पंचमी
Sawan Shukla Panchami (July–August)
"नाग देवता के दूध, खेत में हल नइखे"
Katha · The story
When the boy Krishna fell into the Yamuna while fetching a ball, he found the serpent Kaliya poisoning the water and danced on his hoods until Kaliya begged for mercy and left the river. The other story told here is of a farmer who killed a nest of young snakes while ploughing; the mother snake took her revenge on his family, and only his daughter, who worshipped the nag that day with milk, was spared and won her family back. From that day no one ploughs or digs on Nag Panchami.
In Sawan the fields are flooded and the snakes are everywhere, sheltering in the raised bunds and the thatch. Nag Panchami is the farmer's peace treaty with them.
Mahatva · Significance
It honours the serpent gods, Shesha, Vasuki, Takshak, as guardians of the fields and the rain. It is also the start of the Sawan festivals in Mithila, with Madhushravani already under way for the new brides.
"नागे नागे कहि के पूजल, दूध लावा चढ़ावल"
A line everyone at the festival knows
Vidhi · How it is done in Malinagar
Kheer, lava and gur, sewai in some houses; nothing fried.
Many Malinagar houses still have the nag drawing from last year, faded to pink, beside the door.