Udupi: Nagara Panchami was celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm across Udupi district on Monday, with devotees thronging Nagabanas and Nagadevatha temples from the morning to offer prayers and participate in special rituals.
Devotees offered flowers, fruits, milk, coconut water and other traditional offerings to Naga idols and performed special pujas seeking the blessings of the serpent deity. The celebrations reflected the deep-rooted tradition of Naga worship in coastal Karnataka.
Nagabanas witness special rituals
Several Nagabanas and Nagadevatha temples across the district witnessed a steady flow of devotees throughout the day.
Naga idols were decorated with a variety of flowers, including Hingara and Kedage, while turmeric and saffron were applied as part of the traditional rituals. Devotees performed abhisheka to the idols using milk and coconut water before offering flowers, fruits and other items.
Following the Mangala Aarti, Hingara prasadam was distributed among devotees.
The rituals were conducted with traditional fervour, with families visiting sacred Naga shrines to offer prayers and participate in the festival.
Special pujas held at Udupi Nagabanas
Special pujas were held at the Bannanje, Gundibailu and Marpalli Nagabanas in Udupi.
Devotees also participated in special rituals in the presence of Nagadeva at the Kadekar Sri Lakshminarayana Mutt.
Nagapujas were conducted at the Nagadevatha temple near Brahmagiri Circle, drawing devotees throughout the day.
Special worship was also held at natural Nagabanas located in Doddanagudde, Tangodu, Mangodu, Mukhukodu and Arithodu.
The Naga Brahmasthanas at Saralebettu Kodi also witnessed special prayers as part of the festival.
Religious programmes held at temples
Nagara Panchami celebrations extended to several temples and Naga shrines across the district.
Special pujas were conducted at the Sri Vasuki Nagayakshi Sannidhana in Manchikere, Manipal. Devotees also gathered at the Mahatobar Kodavoor Shankaranarayana Temple to participate in rituals held on the occasion.
The Ishtasiddhi Vinayaka Temple in Kakkunje and the Nagaban Temple in Indrali also conducted special pujas as part of the celebrations.
At the Umamaheshwara Temple in Saralebettu, special religious programmes were organised for devotees.
Special decoration at Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple
A special decorative puja was held for Nagadevatha at the Udupi Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple.
The shrine was decorated for the occasion, with devotees participating in the special rituals and offering prayers to Nagadevatha.
The celebrations at the temple added to the festive atmosphere across the city as devotees observed Nagara Panchami with traditional rituals and offerings.
Devotees gather at Vasuki Subrahmanya Temple
Various religious programmes and special pujas were also held at the Kunjibettu Sagri Vasuki Subrahmanya Temple on the occasion of Nagara Panchami.
Devotees visited the temple to offer prayers and seek the blessings of the deity. The special rituals were conducted as part of the traditional observance of the festival.
Across the district, the celebrations brought together families and devotees at temples, Nagabanas and Naga Brahmasthanas.
Naga worship remains deeply rooted in coastal tradition
Nagara Panchami holds special significance in coastal Karnataka, where Naga worship is closely associated with traditional beliefs, sacred groves and ancestral customs.
Nagabanas, or sacred spaces dedicated to serpent deities, form an important part of the cultural and religious landscape of the region. Many families and communities continue to preserve these spaces and observe annual rituals associated with Naga worship.
The festival provides an opportunity for devotees to maintain these traditions through prayers, abhishekas and offerings.
The observance across Udupi district once again highlighted the importance of Naga worship in the region’s cultural heritage. From natural Nagabanas to established temples and Naga Brahmasthanas, devotees participated in special pujas and religious programmes throughout the day.
With colourful floral decorations, traditional offerings and Mangala Aarti forming part of the celebrations, Nagara Panchami was observed peacefully and with devotion across Udupi district.