Nagula Chavithi 2026: Friday, Nov 13 (India) · Thursday, Nov 12 (US) · how to do the Naga puja

1Why Telugu families worship the Naga devatas

Karthika is the month of Shiva, who wears the serpent Vasuki, and of Vishnu, who rests on Adishesha. On the fourth day of the bright half of Karthika, Telugu families honour the Naga devatas, the serpent deities, asking for the health and long life of their children and for freedom from sarpa dosha. In the South the serpent is closely linked with Subrahmanya, which is why Naga stones stand in so many Subrahmanya temples.

In village life the snake that lives in the anthill (putta) protects the fields from rats; honouring it with milk is also a prayer that no one in the family is harmed by snakes during the year. The day is kept with a light fast until the puja, and many families avoid digging the soil or harming any creature that day.

2How to do the Nagula Chavithi puja

1. Early bath and a light fast: most families take only water or milk until the puja is done.
2. Prepare the offerings: milk, turmeric, kumkum, flowers, a lamp, and naivedyam such as chalimidi, chimmili and fruits.
3. At the anthill (putta), in the morning: clean the spot, apply turmeric and kumkum, light the lamp and incense, and pour milk into the anthill while praying for the family.
4. At home or abroad: place a silver or clay Naga image or a picture on a plate, offer milk and naivedyam, and later pour the milk at the foot of a tree or in the garden. A visit to a Subrahmanya or Naga shrine at the temple is a good alternative.
5. After the puja: share the prasadam (chalimidi, chimmili) and break the fast.

3Checklist: what you need

9 items

• Milk (a small pot for the anthill)
• Turmeric and kumkum
• Flowers
• A small lamp, oil or ghee, and agarbatti
• Chalimidi (rice flour, jaggery, ghee)
• Chimmili (sesame and jaggery)
• Fruits and a coconut
• A silver or clay Naga image, or a picture (if there is no anthill nearby)
• A plate and a bowl to carry the offerings

4A priest, or do it yourself

▶Nagula Chavithi puja, made simple (Telugu) · Nanduri Srivani · YouTube

A video by another channel, added after our review. If your family’s custom differs, follow it.

5Puja items near you

6Nagula Chavithi date by city

In several US cities (New York, Atlanta, Toronto, the Bay Area) Chaturthi is also running at sunrise on Friday, November 13. Families who keep the festival on the day Chaturthi is present at sunrise may observe Friday instead; follow your family custom or ask your priest.

Nagula Chavithi date in your city

Each city page has every day of the festival with local times, and the dates in India.

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