~ madhubani painting: the Snake Goddess ~
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The snake goddess is worshipped during the annual summer festival of Nag Panchami on the fifth day of the bright half of the lunar month in July or August. If the weather has been good, the monsoon rains will have come. Although they assure the fertility of the farm land, the rains bring the snakes out into the open where they appear to be a greater practical danger. The festival is an occasion to use ritual means to avert the danger.
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