Nag Panchami 2027
नाग पंचमीNag Panchami honours the serpent deities with milk and flowers in Shravana, recalling Shesha, Vasuki, Astika's plea to Janamejaya and Krishna's taming of Kaliya.
Next: Friday, 6 August 2027
Quick answer
Nag Panchami 2027 falls on Friday, 6 August 2027 (Shravana Shukla Panchami). In 2026 it fell on Monday, 17 August 2026.
Dates follow the Delhi panchang and can shift by a day in your region, so confirm the muhurat with a local panchang.
Nag Panchami 2027 falls on Friday, 6 August, the fifth day of the bright half of Shravana. On this day the serpent deities (nagas) are worshipped with milk, flowers, turmeric and rice, at snake mounds, temples and images drawn on the walls of homes. Serpents hold a sacred place in Hindu tradition: Shesha bears Vishnu on the cosmic ocean, and Vasuki coils around the neck of Shiva, which is why Nag Panchami falls in Shiva’s month of Shravana.
Nag Panchami 2027 date
Nag Panchami 2027 is on Friday, 6 August 2027 (Shravana Shukla Panchami). In 2026 it fell on Monday, 17 August. In parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka the date can differ by local calendar; follow your family panchang.
Why Nag Panchami is celebrated
Several stories are linked to the day. The Mahabharata‘s Adi Parva tells how King Janamejaya began a great sacrifice to destroy all serpents in revenge for his father Parikshit’s death by the serpent Takshaka, and how the young sage Astika persuaded him to stop it; popular tradition holds that this happened on Shravana Shukla Panchami. Another story, from the Bhagavata Purana, tells of Krishna subduing the serpent Kaliya, who had poisoned the Yamuna, and sparing his life. In farming communities, the day also has a practical meaning: snakes protect fields from rodents, and the rains drive them from their burrows, so they are honoured rather than harmed.
How Nag Panchami is observed
- Naga puja: milk, kumkum, turmeric, rice and flowers are offered at anthills (snake mounds), naga stones or temple images.
- Wall images: serpents are drawn with sandal paste, turmeric or cow dung at the doorway and worshipped.
- Fasting: many keep a fast and avoid digging the earth, ploughing or cutting vegetables, so that no snake is harmed.
- Temple visits: the Nagchandreshwar shrine atop the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain opens only on this day.
The meaning of Nag Panchami
Nag Panchami teaches reverence for creatures we often fear. By honouring the serpent, tradition asks for protection and for harmony with the natural world. Tradition, not science, describes its blessings. See every festival on the Hindu festival calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is Nag Panchami in 2027?
Nag Panchami 2027 is on Friday, 6 August, Shravana Shukla Panchami.
Why are snakes worshipped on Nag Panchami?
Serpent deities are sacred in Hindu tradition: Shesha supports Vishnu and Vasuki adorns Shiva. The day also recalls Astika stopping Janamejaya’s snake sacrifice.
Which temple opens only on Nag Panchami?
The Nagchandreshwar shrine above the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain opens only on Nag Panchami.
Aartis for the day
Sources and further reading
- Srimad Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana), Vedabase
- The Mahabharata, K. M. Ganguli translation (Sacred Texts)
- Hindu festival dates 2026 (Samvat panchang calendar)
- Hindu festival dates 2027 (Samvat panchang calendar)
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