Nag Panchami honours the nagas, the serpent beings of Hindu myth. Devotees draw or install images of snakes at the doorway, bathe them with milk, water and turmeric, and offer flowers and puffed rice; in some places live snakes brought by charmers are worshipped, though this practice has declined. Digging and ploughing are often avoided so as not to disturb creatures underground.
The festival falls on the fifth tithi (Panchami) of the waxing fortnight of Shravana, in the heart of the monsoon, when snakes are most likely to be seen near homes and fields. The puja is done during the day while Panchami prevails.
Regional forms vary: in Maharashtra it is a prominent day with processions and the temple at Battis Shirala, in the south naga stones under sacred trees receive the offerings, in Bengal and Assam the related goddess Manasa is worshipped through the month, and in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat sisters pray for their brothers' protection much as on Raksha Bandhan.