Coexisting with snakes is rooted in both fear and devotion. They appear in our rituals, folk stories, and religious symbols, yet they also trigger instinctive worry when we see them. We worship them, yet we fear them. As a result, they remain misunderstood, and the significance of the role they play in nature is often overlooked.
According to local legend, Kathmandu Valley used to be a massive lake. When people decided to drain it to make the valley habitable, the snake deities, known as nagas, were said to have become furious and stopped the rain, causing a severe drought. The locals reportedly turned to a powerful tantric king to bring the rain back. The king is said to have calmed the nagas and convinced them to restore the rain. To honour these deities, the fifth of Shrawan is celebrated as Nag Panchami, and places like Taudaha in Kathmandu and Nagdaha in Lalitpur are set aside as shelters for serpents.