Sure! Here’s the English version of your Malayalam write-up on Nāga Panchami:


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🔯 Today is Nāga Panchami 🔯

Nāga Panchami is observed on the Shukla Paksha Panchami (fifth day of the waxing moon) in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. It is believed to be the day when Aastika Muni saved the serpents, and also when Lord Krishna subdued the pride of the serpent Kaliya.

On this sacred day, those who perform serpent worship, or have serpent shrines in their homes, are believed to be protected from sarpa dosha or fear of snakes.

Nāga Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrated across India to appease and worship serpents (Nāgas). The festival is symbolically linked to Lord Krishna’s conquest over Kaliya, representing the victory over ego and darkness.

The festival is prominently celebrated in West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Kerala, especially in places like Kasaragod and Kottayam, it is celebrated by the Gauda Saraswat Brahmin communities.

Special rituals are held in serpent shrines (sarpa kavus), including offerings like milk and turmeric rice (noorum paalum). On Nāga Panchami, it is customary not to harm or kill snakes. In some regions, snakes are captured, placed inside earthen pots, and released ceremoniously on the festival day.

Women and children often sing special songs as part of the celebrations.

In North India, Nāga Panchami is also a very significant festival. There, it falls in the month of Shravana (usually corresponding with August), on the Shukla Panchami of the same. It is believed that Krishna’s subduing of Kaliya occurred on this very day. In North India, the day is referred to as Shravana Panchami.

There is also a popular belief that Aastika Muni protected the serpents on this very day. Traditionally, worship should be performed after a ritual bath in a river or at the Nāga Tirtha (sacred serpent pilgrimage site), while fasting for the entire day.

An auspicious ritual involves using earth from snake pits, cow dung, cow urine, milk, and sandalwood paste to make a “pancharajas” mixture. This is then smeared on the ground or wall, and images of serpents are drawn using a paste of turmeric and rice flour, applied with a neem stick.

Women especially pray to Goddess Manasa Devi seeking protection and blessings for their children. Offerings of noorum paalum are placed in front of serpent shrines, and farming, cutting, or digging activities are avoided on this day to prevent disturbing or harming snakes.

🪷🪷🪷🪷🦚🙏


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