BHAKTAPUR, Aug 7: The religious shrines in the district remained packed from early morning with devotees queuing up for worship to mark the Nag Panchami day.
The famous Changu Narayan temple listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site witnessed an influx of devotees from Bhaktapur, Kavre, Kathmandu and Lalitpur today.
Photos: Nag Panchami being celebrated
The devotees started arriving from the early morning, said temple's priest, Chakradhar Ananda Rajupadhaya.
The Nag Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to serpent God or Naga and is observed on the fifth day of the bright half of the Nepali month of Shrawan as per the lunar calendar.
The Changu Narayan deity is offered milks and ghee among other items. Likewise, a huge number of devotees are thronging the Shankha Daha near the temple for ritualistic holy bath. It is believed that taking bath at the pond saves one from diseases. The actual pond is in danger of a landslide so the locals created an artificial pond where devotees can take bath, said Shankha Daha Conservation Committee Chairman, Dinesh Khanal.
In the historic Bhaktapur city, celebrations have broken out in the Til Madhava Narayan temple and Bakhupati Narayan temple. The religious fairs have drawn many devotees in these temples. It is believed that paying homage at the two temples during Nag Panchami would bring blessings, fulfil the wishes and eradicate the problem of snake in houses.
Devotees have also travelled to Thimi, Kavre, Banepa and Panauti among other places for religious worship.
Hundreds throng Nag Daha in Lalitpur
Meanwhile; hundreds of devotees are visiting the Nag Daha at Dhapakhel of Lalitpur district.
A sculpture of a serpent god has been set up near its bank to allow devotees to pay homage. Devotees from Chapagaun, Godavari, Jharuwarashi, Sunakothi, Patan, Lele, Champi, Theche, Godamchaur and Thaiba among other areas come to visit the pond during Nag Panchami, said local Dev Raj Bista.
On this particular day, the family head pastes a picture of the Naga God above the main door of the house and offers worship to the serpent deity. The Naga is taken as the god of rain and water, and as per the religious belief it is said that the house where the Naga deity resides is bestowed with wealth and prosperity. RSS
