KATHMANDU: Naag Panchami is being observed at many parts of the country today by people from the Hindu community.

The Naag Panchami festivities are marked on Shrawan Shukla Panchami (fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight) of the lunar calendar.

On this day, many Hindus worship the snake deity and paste the images of snakes at the entrances and walls of their houses, which is accompanied by chanting of mantras.

Likewise, they visit temples of the snake deity. Devotees also visit temples of Lord Shiva to worship the snake which is considered dear to the Hindu deity.

People worship the snake deity by offering cow’s milk, ghee, barley, sesame and nuts, among other things. In Hinduism, snakes are considered divine and a symbol of protection against the evil.