August 21: The Nagpanchami festival is being celebrated today by worshiping the Naga or the serpent god, with many pasting pictures of a serpent god on the front door of the house as per the Hindu tradition.    
This festival is celebrated every year on the fifth day of Shrawan Shukla Paksha (bright half of the waxing moon) as per the lunar calendar.

There is a religious belief that by hanging a picture of a serpent in the house will avoid harm from snakes and scorpions, as well as from the incidents of fire and lightning, says Prof Dr Debmani Bhattarai, a theologian and a member of the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee.    
The practice of worshipping Naga is believed to have started from the Vedic period. According to Vedic beliefs, Naga is considered the king of snakes. Devotees throng the temples of Naga in Kathmandu valley at Nagpokhari, Taudaha and Nagdaha on this day. – RSS