Nagula Chavithi, a revered festival honouring the Nag Devatas (Serpent Gods), is celebrated on the fourth day after the new moon during Karthika Masam in the Hindu lunar calendar. This year, the festival falls on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Nagula Chavithi holds particular significance for married women, who perform rituals with dedication, seeking the blessings of the Nag Devatas for the health and longevity of their children.
Celebrated across India, Nagula Chavithi is especially important in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Nagula Chavithi, from dates and auspicious times to rituals and cultural significance.
Nagula Chavithi 2024: Date and Muhurat
Significance of Nagula Chavithi
Nagula Chavithi is a day dedicated to honouring and seeking blessings from the Serpent Gods. In Hindu tradition, Nag Devatas are seen as protectors of water bodies and symbols of health, fertility, and prosperity. Worshipping the Nag Devatas during this time is believed to protect families from ailments, ensure crop prosperity, and safeguard children’s well-being.
In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the festival aligns with local agricultural cycles, where worshipping these deities is seen as a way to protect crops, livestock, and families from harm.
Rituals and Observances
1. Fast and Devotional Practices by Married Women
Married women lead the rituals on this day, often fasting and praying for the well-being of their children and family. Their devotion reflects a commitment to family welfare and good fortune.
2. Snake Idol Worship
Devotees create idols of Nag Devatas from clay or silver, which are sanctified and placed near anthills or specially prepared altars in temples or homes. These idols serve as focal points for the rituals, symbolising the presence of the serpent gods.
3. Milk and Turmeric Offerings
Offerings of milk, turmeric, flowers, and sometimes sweets are presented to the snake idols or images. In some regions, devotees sprinkle milk around anthills, believed to be snake dwellings, as a gesture of respect.
4. Special Prayers in Temples
Temples dedicated to Nag Devatas hold special pujas on Nagula Chavithi, where devotees gather to participate in collective prayers and rituals, seeking protection and blessings for their families.
5. Protection of Snakes
Hindu tradition holds snakes as sacred creatures, and on Nagula Chavithi, devotees consciously avoid any action that could harm snakes. This respect underscores the festival's message of living in harmony with nature.
Nagula Chavithi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Nagula Chavithi holds a deep cultural significance in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, where it is celebrated as a key event of the Karthika month. The festival is marked by enthusiastic participation and devotion, reflecting the people’s connection to ancient customs. Women, in particular, observe the day with fervour, embracing rituals that represent their roles as guardians of family welfare.
In many towns and villages, families and communities gather at temples and temporary altars, where communal prayers and festivities take place. These gatherings foster a shared spirit of devotion and reverence toward the Serpent Gods, strengthening cultural and community ties.
Celebrated across India, Nagula Chavithi is especially important in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Nagula Chavithi, from dates and auspicious times to rituals and cultural significance.
Nagula Chavithi 2024: Date and Muhurat
- Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
- Puja Muhurat Duration: 10:58 AM to 1:09 PM (2 hours 11 minutes)
- Chavithi Tithi Begins: 11:24 PM on November 4, 2024
- Chavithi Tithi Ends: 12:16 AM on November 6, 2024
Significance of Nagula Chavithi
Nagula Chavithi is a day dedicated to honouring and seeking blessings from the Serpent Gods. In Hindu tradition, Nag Devatas are seen as protectors of water bodies and symbols of health, fertility, and prosperity. Worshipping the Nag Devatas during this time is believed to protect families from ailments, ensure crop prosperity, and safeguard children’s well-being.
In Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the festival aligns with local agricultural cycles, where worshipping these deities is seen as a way to protect crops, livestock, and families from harm.
Rituals and Observances
1. Fast and Devotional Practices by Married Women
Married women lead the rituals on this day, often fasting and praying for the well-being of their children and family. Their devotion reflects a commitment to family welfare and good fortune.
2. Snake Idol Worship
Devotees create idols of Nag Devatas from clay or silver, which are sanctified and placed near anthills or specially prepared altars in temples or homes. These idols serve as focal points for the rituals, symbolising the presence of the serpent gods.
3. Milk and Turmeric Offerings
Offerings of milk, turmeric, flowers, and sometimes sweets are presented to the snake idols or images. In some regions, devotees sprinkle milk around anthills, believed to be snake dwellings, as a gesture of respect.
4. Special Prayers in Temples
Temples dedicated to Nag Devatas hold special pujas on Nagula Chavithi, where devotees gather to participate in collective prayers and rituals, seeking protection and blessings for their families.
5. Protection of Snakes
Hindu tradition holds snakes as sacred creatures, and on Nagula Chavithi, devotees consciously avoid any action that could harm snakes. This respect underscores the festival's message of living in harmony with nature.
Nagula Chavithi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Nagula Chavithi holds a deep cultural significance in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, where it is celebrated as a key event of the Karthika month. The festival is marked by enthusiastic participation and devotion, reflecting the people’s connection to ancient customs. Women, in particular, observe the day with fervour, embracing rituals that represent their roles as guardians of family welfare.
In many towns and villages, families and communities gather at temples and temporary altars, where communal prayers and festivities take place. These gatherings foster a shared spirit of devotion and reverence toward the Serpent Gods, strengthening cultural and community ties.
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