News from Nepal

A Hindu festival, Nag Panchami, is celebrated on the fifth day of the moonlit-fortnight in the month of Shrawan (between July and August).

This is the time when serpents come out of their holes that get inundated with rainwaters to seek shelters, posing a danger to man. Snakes are worshiped on this day.

This festival that falls in the rainy season is believed to counter the increased possibility of snakebites during this time.

Meanwhile, people also paste the portraits of snakes using cow dung on the either side of the entrance to their houses to mark Nag Panchami.