Nagula Chavithi 2026 falls on Friday, 13 November 2026 - five days after Diwali, on the Chaturthi (fourth day) of Shukla Paksha in the Hindu month of Karthika.
This is one of the most significant festivals in the Telugu and Kannada Hindu calendar, observed primarily in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka - and by the large South Indian community across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman in UAE. It is a day dedicated to the worship of Naga Devatas - the serpent gods - and is observed especially by married women fasting for the protection and wellbeing of their children.
Nagula Chavithi 2026 - Date and Muhurat
Date: Friday, 13 November 2026 Puja Muhurat: 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM Tithi: Chaturthi - fourth day of Shukla Paksha, Karthika month
The puja muhurat falls in the late morning to midday window. Families in UAE can observe the vrat from sunrise and perform the main puja during this window. The fast is typically broken after the puja is complete.
Always confirm exact muhurat with the DrikPanchang app set to Dubai before the date, as precise timings can vary slightly by location.
What Is Nagula Chavithi?
Nagula Chavithi - also written as Naga Chaturthi in some traditions - is a Hindu festival for the worship of Naga Devatas, the divine serpent gods. "Nagula" means serpent in Telugu, and "Chavithi" means the fourth day of a lunar fortnight.
The festival falls on the Chaturthi after Deepavali Amavasya every year - placing it in the auspicious post-Diwali phase of Karthika month, which is considered one of the most spiritually potent months in the Hindu calendar.
It is primarily a women's festival. Married women observe a vrat (fast) and perform Naga puja for the health, protection, and long life of their children. Unmarried women also observe it to seek a good match. Men participate in the puja but the vrat is primarily observed by women.
The Mythology Behind Nagula Chavithi
The Naga Devatas - serpent gods - hold an extraordinary place in Hindu cosmology. They are not peripheral figures. They are present at the very centre of the most important events in the Puranas.
Vasuki and the Samudra Manthan: During the churning of the cosmic ocean, it was Vasuki - the king of serpents - who served as the churning rope wrapped around Mount Mandara. When the deadly poison Halahala emerged from the ocean and threatened all of creation, several serpents including Vasuki consumed it alongside Lord Shiva. Vasuki bore this selfless act without complaint. Shiva was so moved by his devotion that he chose to wear Vasuki around his neck as an ornament - giving him the highest place of honour.
Shesha Naga and Vishnu: Ananta Shesha - the infinite serpent - serves as the cosmic bed on which Lord Vishnu rests between cycles of creation. Shesha represents eternity, stability, and the infinite nature of the universe. Vishnu's resting on Shesha is one of the most iconic images in Hindu iconography - the deity of preservation resting on the serpent of eternity.
Takshaka and the Mahabharata: The Naga king Takshaka plays a significant role in the Mahabharata - his conflict with King Parikshit and the subsequent Sarpa Satra (snake sacrifice) conducted by Janamejaya forms one of the Mahabharata's most dramatic sub-plots, ultimately resolved by the sage Astika who stopped the sacrifice.
Naga Dosha and ancestral karma: In Vedic astrology and tradition, the Naga Devatas are closely connected to ancestral karma - particularly Sarpa Dosha (serpent affliction in the birth chart) associated with Rahu and Ketu. Worshipping the Naga Devatas on Nagula Chavithi is considered one of the most effective remedies for Sarpa Dosha and for seeking the release of ancestral karmic burdens.
Shiva and the Serpent - Why Naga Worship Connects to Shiva
The deepest connection in Naga worship is with Lord Shiva. Shiva is Nagabhushana - the one adorned with serpents. He wears Vasuki around his neck, holds serpents on his arms and in his matted hair, and Nandi - his vehicle - is sometimes depicted with a serpent.
The serpent in Shiva's iconography carries specific meaning: the coiled serpent at the base of the spine represents kundalini energy - the dormant spiritual power that rises through the chakras in deep practice. Shiva as Nagabhushana is the deity who has awakened this energy fully and wears it as an ornament - the symbol of complete spiritual mastery.
This is why Nagula Chavithi puja is often performed at Shiva temples in South India. Worshipping the Nagas on this day is simultaneously an act of devotion to Shiva - the deity who wears, honours, and protects the serpents.
For families in UAE who worship at home, this connection makes the Mahadev Shiv Pooja Box and the Narmadeshwar Shivling relevant additions to the Nagula Chavithi altar - honouring the Shiva-Naga connection as part of the same puja.
Nagula Chavithi Puja Vidhi - Step by Step
Preparation
Wake before sunrise and take a ritual bath. Wear clean clothes - traditionally yellow or white, signifying purity. Take the vrat sankalpa (formal vow) in the morning.
Clean and purify the puja space. Draw a snake motif (Naga rangoli) at the entrance or on the puja altar using turmeric and kumkum - this is a distinctive Nagula Chavithi tradition.
Samagri for Nagula Chavithi Puja
- Naga idol or image (Ashtanga - eight-hooded cobra is traditional)
- Turmeric (haldi) and kumkum
- Fresh flowers - jasmine and marigold
- Fresh milk - for the primary offering
- Bananas and fresh fruits
- Dry fruits - nuts and raisins
- Sandalwood paste (chandan)
- Incense sticks
- Diya with ghee or oil
- Camphor for aarti
- Yellow or white cloth for the altar
The Puja Sequence
Step 1 - Invoke Ganesha first. Place kumkum and akshat on a Ganesha image and chant Om Ganeshaya Namaha three times. Ganesha always precedes any puja in the Vedic tradition.
Step 2 - Install the Naga Devata. Place the Naga idol or image on a clean yellow cloth. Draw a snake motif around the base with turmeric. Apply kumkum to the hood of the idol.
Step 3 - Offer milk. Pour fresh milk gently over the Naga idol or into a small vessel placed before it. Milk is the primary and most sacred offering to the Naga Devatas. Chant: Om Naga Devaya Namaha as you pour.
Step 4 - Offer flowers, turmeric, and kumkum. Place jasmine and marigold flowers on the idol. Apply turmeric and kumkum at the base of the idol and around the puja space.
Step 5 - Offer fruits and dry fruits. Place bananas and other fresh fruits before the idol. Dry fruits are offered as a secondary naivedya.
Step 6 - Chant the Naga mantra. The primary mantra for Nagula Chavithi:
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Namaskar (For Vishnu-Shesha connection)
Om Namah Shivaya - especially for the Vasuki-Shiva connection
The twelve Naga names chanted on this day: Ananta, Vasuki, Shesha, Padmanabha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhritarashtra, Takshaka, Kaliya, Pingala, Nala, Pingaha
Chant each name with: Om [Name] Nagaya Namaha
Step 7 - Aarti. Perform aarti with camphor and distribute prasad - the fruit and food offerings - to all family members.
Step 8 - Break the fast. The vrat is broken after the puja is complete. Traditional Nagula Chavithi vrat foods are satvik - rice, lentils, milk-based sweets, and fresh fruits.
Observing Nagula Chavithi in UAE - Without a Snake Pit
In India, a key ritual of Nagula Chavithi involves visiting a Valmeekam or Putta - a snake pit or anthill - and pouring milk at the site as an offering to the natural dwelling of the Nagas.
For families in UAE, this practice is adapted to home worship. The Naga idol serves as the focal point of the offering. Pouring milk over the Naga idol at home carries the same intention and sincerity as the outdoor ritual - the tradition acknowledges that devotion transcends physical location.
Several temples in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with South Indian community connections organise Nagula Chavithi puja programmes. Check with your local temple for community puja timings.
Sarpa Dosha and Nagula Chavithi
Sarpa Dosha - serpent affliction in the Vedic birth chart - is one of the most significant dosha considerations in South Indian astrological tradition. It is caused by the placement of Rahu and Ketu in the chart in specific combinations and is associated with delays in marriage, challenges with children, and patterns of unexplained difficulty in life.
Worshipping the Naga Devatas on Nagula Chavithi is one of the primary remedies for Sarpa Dosha. The tradition holds that the serpent gods, when propitiated with sincerity, can reduce the karmic burden associated with this dosha.
For families with Sarpa Dosha concerns, performing the full puja vidhi on Nagula Chavithi with a specific prayer for dosha relief is considered highly effective. A Naga puja performed at temples like Subramanya in Karnataka or Bhoga Nandeeshwara near Bengaluru is traditionally the most powerful remedy - but for UAE families, a sincere home puja with the correct mantras and offerings carries real spiritual weight.
The Karungali Malai (Black Ebony Wood 108 Beads) from Divine Sansar is used by many South Indian families for mantra chanting during Naga puja and Sarpa Dosha remedies - the dark wood is associated with Saturn and Rahu's energies, making it particularly aligned with this practice.
Protection Energy - Crystals and Nagula Chavithi
In the crystal energy tradition, Obsidian - volcanic black glass - is understood as one of the most protective stones available. Its dense, dark energy is associated with grounding, boundary protection, and the deflection of negative or karmic energy.
For families observing Nagula Chavithi as part of a broader Sarpa Dosha remedy practice, Obsidian's energy aligns naturally with the intention of clearing ancestral karmic burdens and creating protective boundaries.
The Triple Protection Bracelet with Tiger Eye, Obsidian, and Hematite is worn by many in the UAE Indian community as a daily protection anchor alongside their puja practice.
Nagula Chavithi in the UAE Telugu and Kannada Community
The Telugu-speaking community in UAE - concentrated across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman - is one of the largest and most active South Indian diaspora communities in the region. Nagula Chavithi, along with Ugadi, Dasara, and Sankranti, is one of the key festivals that maintains cultural and spiritual continuity for this community far from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Celebrating it in UAE looks different from celebrating it in a village in Andhra - there are no snake pits, no community festivals in the fields, no processions. But the core of the practice - a woman's sincere fast and prayer for her children's wellbeing, a family gathering for puja, the offering of milk to the Naga Devata - is completely transferable to a Dubai apartment or an Abu Dhabi villa.
The intention is identical. The blessing is available anywhere.
FAQ: Nagula Chavithi 2026
When is Nagula Chavithi 2026? Nagula Chavithi 2026 falls on Friday, 13 November 2026. The puja muhurat is 11:15 AM to 1:30 PM. It is observed on the Chaturthi - fourth day of Shukla Paksha - in the Hindu month of Karthika, five days after Diwali.
What is the significance of Nagula Chavithi? Nagula Chavithi is a festival for worshipping Naga Devatas - the divine serpent gods - for the protection and wellbeing of children and family. It is primarily observed by married women who fast and perform Naga puja. It is also one of the primary remedies for Sarpa Dosha in Vedic astrology, helping reduce the karmic burden associated with the serpent affliction.
Who observes the vrat on Nagula Chavithi? Married women primarily observe the Nagula Chavithi vrat, fasting for the wellbeing of their children. Unmarried women also keep the fast seeking a suitable match. Men participate in the puja but the vrat tradition is specifically for women.
What is the connection between Nagula Chavithi and Lord Shiva? Shiva is Nagabhushana - the one adorned with serpents. He wears Vasuki around his neck, who served selflessly during the Samudra Manthan. The Naga Devatas are closely connected to Shiva's energy, and many Nagula Chavithi pujas are performed at Shiva temples. Worshipping the Nagas on this day is an act of devotion to the Shiva-Naga relationship.
How do I perform Nagula Chavithi puja at home in UAE without a snake pit? The Naga idol serves as the focal point for offerings in home worship. Pour fresh milk over the Naga idol as the primary offering, offer jasmine flowers and turmeric, chant the Naga mantras and the twelve Naga names, and perform aarti. The tradition acknowledges that sincere home puja with the correct intention carries the same blessing as outdoor ritual.
What is Sarpa Dosha and how does Nagula Chavithi help? Sarpa Dosha is a serpent affliction in the Vedic birth chart caused by specific placements of Rahu and Ketu. It is associated with delays in marriage, challenges with children, and unexplained patterns of difficulty. Worshipping the Naga Devatas on Nagula Chavithi with a specific prayer for dosha relief is one of the primary traditional remedies for this condition.
What foods are offered during Nagula Chavithi puja? The primary offering is fresh milk poured over the Naga idol or into a vessel at the puja site. Additional offerings include bananas, fresh fruits, dry fruits, and flowers - especially jasmine and marigold. All offerings are satvik. The prasad distributed to family members after puja typically includes fruit and milk-based sweets.
Where can I find puja items for Nagula Chavithi in Dubai? Divine Sansar offers Naga puja samagri, the Mahadev Shiv Pooja Box, Narmadeshwar Shivlings, Karungali Malas, and protection crystal pieces with same-day and next-day delivery across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman. Visit divinesansar.com to order.
Divine Sansar is a UAE-based brand offering authentic pooja products, crystals, and spiritual items to the Indian community across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ajman.
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