Naga Panchami
/ˈnɑːɡə pʌnˈtʃəmi/noun
A Hindu festival observed on the fifth lunar day of the bright half of Shravan, honoring snakes and serpent deities.
Did you know?During Naga Panchami, living snakes have traditionally been offered milk in some regions, although modern wildlife authorities warn that this can harm the animals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pénkʷe
“Five; the reconstructed ancestor of Sanskrit pañca and English five.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
nāga
“Serpent or snake; also, in some contexts, an elephant or a semi-divine serpent being.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pañca
“Five.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pañcamī
“The fifth lunar day, feminine ordinal form derived from pañca.”
Medieval Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Nāga Pañcamī
“The fifth lunar day associated with nāgas, or serpent beings; a ritual observance honoring them.”
Modern English
English
Naga Panchami
“The established English name for the Hindu serpent-veneration festival.”