KATHMANDU: The Nag Panchami festival is being observed across Nepal today, with devotees worshipping Nag, the serpent deity, on the occasion of Shrawan Shukla Panchami.

On the festival day, people traditionally place or paste pictures of serpents above the main entrance of their homes or on either side of the doorway and offer prayers.

According to religious belief, worshipping Nag in this manner protects households from poisonous creatures such as snakes and scorpions, as well as from fire, lightning and other natural calamities throughout the year.

Devotees also display images of serpents at the entrances of their homes as a symbol of reverence and seek protection and prosperity for their families.

Meanwhile, large numbers of devotees have gathered since early morning at Naxal Nagpokhari in Kathmandu to worship Nag. Devotees have also thronged Nagdaha in Lalitpur and Nagpokhari in Bhaktapur to mark the festival.