Dogras of Jammu region celebrate Naag Panchami on the Panchami of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapad month.
Jammu is the land of the Naagas and Naag worship is centuries old in the region. Not only are Naag revered and killing them considered a sin but they are also considered the Kings of the land.
Naag or serpents are powerful representational symbols of cosmic energy in Vedic literature as seen in pauraanik katha and iconography associated with Shiva and Vishnu. Naagas are also an intrinsic part of the local Duggar traditions and have been depicted in various art forms like Basohli painting as well as carvings on stone especially near water bodies.
Highly revered Duggar folk deities like Baba Kaliveer ji and Raja Mandlik are also shown as having close association with Naag.
The King of Kings, Serpent King Maharaj Vasuki Naag ji is worshipped in a unique way in Bhaderwah and though Bhaderwah is dotted with Naga Temples, the main Vasuki ji Temple in the Bhaderwah town has stunning six feet idols in black stone set on an elaborately carved stone.
Considered to have been the original dwellers of Jammu Kashmir, the influence of Nagas remains on the history and culture of the region.
Many shrines dedicated to Naag are found across the region. Bhair Devta, Kai Devta in Meri Mandrian (Akhnoor), Sumah Devta, Akhnoor, Akhar Devta near Kali Dhar, Shairdar Devta, Khungan Devta, Tanda Devta, Kharsar Devta shrines in Ramnagar tehsil, Surgal Baba shrines in Kathua and Udhampur are some amongst the many temples in Jammu region where people offer prayers to the Naag devta.
On Naag Panchami in Duggar Desh people clean their kitchens and images of naag, nagin , bichhu, kronkal are either drawn on charcoal boards or are made out of wheat flour in which turmeric has been added.
Dalassi is poured over them during Puja and kheer, meri, gugni and churi is offered as prasad.
After the Puja (tikka, phull, dhoop, deep) the dlassi is sprinkled all over the house. On. this day devotees also make offerings of milk and other sweets at barmee/abode of snakes. The pictures of snakes that have been drawn on doorways and walls are later rubbed off.
For many clans in Jammu region Naag is also their clan deity. In places the worship also involves Yatra or Gagail (procession). Community feasts are organised and farmers avoid ploughing the field today.
Some celebrations also Jaatar or Jagru where Dualas or the devotees who are believed to possess divine powers in the process dance in meditative abandon in front of the deities.
Naag pujan is an ancient practice in Jammu region. A Festival which celebrates the relationship between Purush and Prakriti and teaches the lesson of co existence, gratitude and being reverential to nature.
नमोस्तु सर्पेभया: 🙏🏻
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