Nagula Chavithi, a Hindu festival celebrated mainly in southern India, honours the Serpent Gods. Know the date, muhurta, significance, and rituals. Worship snakes and seek prosperity and good fortune.
Nagula Chavithi, an auspicious festival dedicated to worshipping Nag Devatas (Serpent Gods), takes place on the fourth day following Deepavali Amavasya during Karthika Masam, a sacred month in the Hindu lunar calendar. This year's celebration will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. This festival is significant for married women, who dedicate themselves to the Nagula Chavithi ceremonies and ask for blessings for their children's health and longevity.
While the holiday is observed throughout India, it is particularly significant in Andhra Pradesh and portions of Karnataka. Here's all you need to know about Nagula Chavithi's date, customs, and importance in 2024.
Nagula Chavithi Puja Muhurat - 10:59 AM to 13:10 PM
Duration - 02 Hours 11 Mins
Chavithi Tithi begins - 23:24 PM on November 4, 2024
Chavithi Tithi ends - 12:16 AM on November 6, 2024
Nagula Chavithi is a day of worship and appreciation to the serpent gods. The worship of Nag Devatas has strong cultural and spiritual origins in Hinduism, where snakes are revered as water guardians and their blessings are said to bring health, fertility, and wealth.
For generations, Nagula Chavithi has been a time to pay homage to these deities and seek their protection from illness and disaster. Devotees believe that worshipping Nag Devatas on this day protects families from illness and promotes well-being, particularly among small children. The festival also coincides with agricultural cycles in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, where worshipping Nag Devatas is regarded as a method to protect crops, cattle, and families.
The ceremonies related with Nagula Chavithi are unique and highly symbolic. Here's how devotees mark this day: Married ladies take the lead in executing the Nagula Chavithi ceremonies. They often fast and pray for their children's health, happiness, and wealth.
Snake Idol Worship: Devotees make Nag Devata idols out of clay or silver, which they sanctify and worship with sacrifices. These statues are generally placed near anthills or on specifically designed altars in temples or homes.
Offering Milk and Turmeric: One of the most important rituals is to provide milk, turmeric, flowers, and occasionally sweets to snake statues or representations. In certain regions, believers pour milk over anthills where snakes are thought to live as a sign of respect and devotion.
Special Pujas and Prayers: Many temples, especially those dedicated to the Nag Devatas, have special pujas on Nagula Chavithi. Devotees join in these communal prayers to seek blessings for their families.
Snakes are revered in the Hindu religion and should not be harmed. On Nagula Chavithi, devotees deliberately avoid any activity that may damage snakes, strengthening the concept of living in harmony with nature.
Nagula Chavithi is profoundly ingrained in the cultural legacy of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, where it is regarded as one of the most important celebrations of the Karthika month. The holiday is celebrated in these areas with excitement and faith, demonstrating the people's attachment to their rituals and traditions. Women, in particular, passionately embrace the Nagula Chavithi ceremonies since they represent their position as defenders of family welfare and offspring.
The festival is frequently seen as a community celebration, with families and communities meeting at temples to partake in collective prayer and festivities. In many cities and villages, temporary shrines are put up so devotees can pay their respects to the Nag Devatas.
Nagula Chavithi is a day that celebrates dedication, gratitude, and adherence to traditional customs. This festival, devoted to the Nag Devatas, is widely celebrated in Andhra Pradesh and portions of Karnataka. It draws families together in prayer and builds cultural bonds. Observing Nagula Chavithi in 2024 allows believers to reconnect with their roots, worship the Serpent Gods, and pray for health, wealth, and happiness.
As devotees follow Nagula Chavithi's age-old traditions, they pass on a heritage of love and care for nature, representing the harmonious interaction between people and the natural world.