Nagula Chavithi and Naga Panchami

Introduction

Nagula Chavithi – "the Chaturthi of the serpents" – is the festival of serpent worship in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Its best-known observance falls on Karthika Shukla Chaturthi, just four days after Deepavali, in the holy month of Karthika. The serpent deities (Naga devatas) are also worshipped on Shravana Shukla Panchami – Naga Panchami – during the monsoon; some families and regions keep the Shravana day, others the Karthika day, and many keep both. On these days, families visit a putta (anthill, the traditional home of serpents) early in the morning and pour milk into it with prayers.

Significance and Legend

According to tradition, the nagas are divine beings who guard the earth, its waters and its treasures, and are honoured in many forms – from Adisesha, on whom Lord Vishnu rests, to Vasuki, who serves as Lord Shiva's ornament. In the Telugu lands, Sri Subrahmanya Swamy is closely linked with the serpent deities and is worshipped in serpent form in many places. Nagula Chavithi is kept above all by mothers, praying for the health, protection and long life of their children, and devotees also seek relief from naga dosha (afflictions believed to be connected with serpents). Shravana Panchami is also observed by many as Garuda Panchami.

How it is Celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

• Morning at the putta: families rise early, bathe, and go together to an anthill – in a field, a garden or a temple courtyard – or to a Subrahmanya temple.
• Pouring milk: milk is poured gently into the openings of the anthill, and the putta is decorated with turmeric, kumkum and flowers, with prayers to the Naga devatas.
• Fasting: many women, especially mothers, fast until the puja is completed, taking only milk or fruits.
• Naga idols: where there is no anthill nearby, devotees worship stone or metal images of the serpent deities at temples and at home.
• Looking forward to it: the Deepavali chant of the Telugu children, "Dibbu dibbu Deepavali, malli vacche Nagula Chavithi", shows how closely the two festivals are linked in the Karthika season – see Deepavali.

Rituals and Puja

• After a holy bath, the Naga devatas are worshipped at the putta or before a naga image with turmeric, kumkum, flowers and lamps.
• Milk is offered with devotion, often together with sweets prepared at home.
• Prayers are offered for the children's well-being and for protection from all harm.
• The fast is completed after the puja, and the prasadam is shared with the family.

Foods and Offerings

• Milk – the central offering, poured into the anthill.
• Chalimidi – a sweet of rice flour and jaggery – and chimmili – a sweet of sesame and jaggery – offered and then shared as prasadam.
• Fruits, flowers, turmeric and kumkum.

Temples Known for this Festival

• Sri Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Mopidevi – the Lord is revered as having emerged from an anthill, and pouring milk on the sacred anthill is the temple's best-loved offering; Nagula Chavithi draws very large crowds.
• Kukke Shri Subrahmanya Temple – a great centre of serpent worship, where Naga Panchami (Nagara Panchami) in Shravana is celebrated with special naga pujas and large numbers of devotees.

The Nagula Chavithi and Naga Panchami dates are shown in the festival dates above. Nagula Chavithi falls on Karthika Shukla Chaturthi and Naga Panchami on Shravana Shukla Panchami as per the Telugu panchang.