4. Nag Panchami – Worshipping The King of Snakes
Animism is an intrinsic part of Indian culture and heritage. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise the cobras have their very own day in the country. Lord Shiva is always depicted with a cobra wrapped round his neck and that’s why snakes, in particular the cobra, has an important place in Hinduism. There are special temples dedicated to snakes; and on the day of Nag Panchami people worship snakes.
Typically, snakes are carried in processions to temples and it is not a sight for the faint hearted! You can watch Nag Panchmi in all its splendor at the Ngathamman Temple in Chennai, the Adiesha Temple of Andhra Pradesh, the Hardevja Temple in Jaipur and the Nagaraja Temple in Kerala.
