Narendra Chitrakar, 62, is having a busy time drawing colorful sketches of Naag-the serpent god- to be marketed for the upcoming Naag Panchami Festival.
Chitrakar, residing at Janabahal Kathmandu, holds abiding experiences on this artistic and cultural profession as he has been engaged in it for about five decades.
Naag Panchami, one among the auspicious annual festivals of Hindu, is the day of worshipping snakes. It is celebrated on the fifth day of Shukla Pakshya (the bright half of the month) as per lunar calendar, generally in the month of Shrawan.
Naag Panchami this year falls on the coming Monday, 4th of Bhadra.
On the day, people affix images of Naag – the serpent god- atop of the main door of the house and offer milk and Dubo to the Naag.
Some mount on their doorstep the hand drawn sketch of Naag while others use various forms of printed and painted colorful pictures.
It is believed that displeasing Naag causes different calamities including fire and drought while placing the image of Naag on doorstep and worshipping the Naag brings safety and prosperity.
