Nag Panchami 2027: Date, Tithi, Muhurta & Significance
In 2027, Nag Panchami falls on Friday, 6 August 2027.
History & Mythology
On Nag Panchami the serpent deities — Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka, Karkotaka and the other great Nagas of the Puranas — are honoured with milk, turmeric, and flowers offered at snake shrines, anthills, and images drawn beside doorways. The Nagas hold a singular place in the Hindu cosmos: Vishnu reclines on Shesha-Ananta, Shiva wears Vasuki around his throat, and the earth itself is said to rest upon the thousand hoods of Ananta.
The festival's defining story is Krishna's subduing of Kaliya. The venomous serpent had poisoned the Yamuna until the boy Krishna leapt into the river, danced upon Kaliya's hoods, and banished him — sparing his life at the plea of the serpent's wives. The day therefore carries a double meaning: reverence for the serpent's power and gratitude for protection from it. In an agrarian land where the monsoon drives snakes from flooded burrows into fields and homes, Nag Panchami is the season's act of reconciliation with the serpent world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Hindu festival dates calculated?
Hindu festival dates are calculated using the Panchang — the Vedic almanac based on Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (Moon's asterism), and other astronomical factors. Most festivals fall on specific Tithis in particular lunar months. AstroJanamPatrika calculates these with the Swiss Ephemeris, making dates accurate to the minute rather than relying on pre-printed almanacs.
Why do Hindu festival dates change every year?
Hindu festivals follow the lunisolar calendar, not the Gregorian solar calendar. Because the lunar year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year, festivals drift earlier each year, and an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) is added roughly every 2–3 years to realign the two. This is why Diwali, Navratri and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year.
What is Tithi in the Hindu calendar?
Tithi is the lunar day, determined by the angular distance between the Moon and Sun in multiples of 12°. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing Shukla Paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna Paksha. Most festivals are tied to a specific Tithi, which is why their Gregorian dates shift each year.
What is Shubh Muhurta for festival rituals?
Shubh Muhurta is the auspicious time window for performing rituals, determined by combining Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Vara and Choghadiya. AstroJanamPatrika computes the precise muhurta for each festival from your local sunrise, Tithi end times and auspicious Nakshatras.
What are Purnima and Amavasya?
Purnima is the full-moon day (15th Tithi of Shukla Paksha), when Moon and Sun are 180° apart; Amavasya is the new-moon day, when they are conjunct. Both are highly significant — Purnima for celebrations, Amavasya for ancestral rites (Pitru Tarpan).