Vrat Vidhi:
This vrat is observed on Shravan Vad Pancham. On this day, the vrat-keeper wakes up early, bathes, and at the water area draws an image of the snake. They light a ghee lamp and perform the worship. Next, they offer bajra‑flour dumplings dipped in cold ghee as Naivedya and take one meal. They may also eat soaked moth beans, moong, bajra with cucumber and pickle. Observing this vrat removes frequent family quarrels and increases wealth. With the blessings of Nag Devta, the household enjoys abundance of grain and prosperity.
Vrat Katha:
In a village lived a Doshi mother (Doshi-ma), with her six sons and their wives. Of them, five daughters‑in‑law had their own families (piyar), but the youngest wife, Radha, had none. Therefore everyone used to call her "napiri" and taunt her. Her mother‑in‑law and sisters‑in‑law made her do a lot of work. They did not even give her sufficient food.
When the month of Bhadrapad arrived, kheer was made at home. Everyone ate kheer to their fill. But no one called the youngest daughter‑in‑law, Radha. She was pregnant at that time. So she craved kheer. Her mother‑in‑law told her: “Eat whatever remains in the pot after washing utensils.”
Radha went to the kitchen and found nothing to eat. In the kheer pot there were only burnt rice flakes ("popda"). She became disappointed. Still, she scraped out those flakes, gathered them in a cloth, and kept them, thinking: after washing the utensils, she will eat them.
Now what happened: she placed that cloth under a tree. A pregnant she-snake (nagin) came and ate those scraps. A while later Radha, after washing the utensils, went by the tree and saw that the scraps had disappeared.
That nagini had been watching from behind a nap—and saw the incident. She thought: “Now Radha will abuse me.” But to her surprise, Radha said: “May whoever ate it’s belly be satisfied.”
Hearing this, the nagini became delighted and appeared in human form. She asked: “Sister, are you sad about something?”
Radha replied sorrowfully: “Mother, in my husband’s family (piyar) I have no blood relatives. Everyone just calls me ‘Mena—my mother.’ Soon my baby shower (kholu bharavanu) is due. I have no brother—who will perform the kholu ceremony for me?” As soon as she said that, tears came into her eyes.
The nagini’s heart melted and she said: “Don’t cry. You don’t need to worry at all. On the day of your kholu bharavanu, place one wedding card (kankotri) near my burrow.”
Hearing this, the daughter‑in‑law became happy. A few days later, her kholu bharavanu day arrived. The sisters‑in‑law began to mock her: “There is no dog in your piyar, so how will your kholu take place?”
Hearing this, the youngest daughter‑in‑law became upset and told her mother‑in‑law: “In my piyar there is a distant relative. I need to send him a kankotri.” Mother‑in‑law discreetly wrote a small note via the elder sister‑in‑law and gave it to her.
The youngest daughter‑in‑law, feeling happy, took the kankotri and placed it by the snake burrow, prayed, and returned home. When the time of kholu bharavanu came, the sisters‑in‑law jokingly said inside: “Today we will get beautiful jewelry and clothes in the gifts. His family will bring carts full of gifts.”
Hearing this, the youngest daughter‑in‑law felt disappointed and silently prayed to Nag Devta. Then from a distance the sound of carts was heard. All looked in that direction.
After a while, the carts arrived in the courtyard and stopped.
From them descended countless beautiful figures: the nagini, Nag Devta, and the naga princes. Behind them two attendants came down carrying golden chests. More carts arrived and stood waiting.
The naga princes performed the kholu ceremony with great pomp. Everyone was given gold, silver, diamond and pearl jewelry, and luxurious clothes and made happy.
When the kholu was complete, the nagini told the mother‑in‑law: “Madam, please give my daughter her farewell. The auspicious time has passed; I will take her back myself.”
Poor mother‑in‑law: what could she say? She was stunned seeing everything. The nagini took the youngest daughter‑in‑law in farewell. Radha went with the nagini, though in her heart she was uncertain: where will the nagini take her?
But at the courtyard gate the nagini waved her hand and the ground opened—a passage called “bhoyra.” Through that bhoyra they arrived in a grand palace. Seeing a palace more magnificent than any king’s, Radha was astonished.
The nagini told the wife: “You now have no chores. You eat, and rest on swings. Only one task: morning, noon, evening—ring the silver bell, gather the naga princes, and feed them milk.”
The youngest daughter‑in‑law accepted this happily. Days passed. On an auspicious day she gave birth to a divine-like son. All the kings were astonished.
The child grew up slowly. One day the wife put hot milk on a stove and went away to do some work. Meanwhile the child took the silver bell and began to ring it. Hearing its sound, all the naga princes ran there.
Seeing that, the child became frightened and dropped the bell from his hands. Because of that two naga princes lost their tails. Other naga princes burned their mouths after drinking the hot milk.
The naga princes became enraged and rushed to bite the child. At that moment the daughter‑in‑law came and saved him. Seeing the naga princes in that state, she felt sorrow.
But what could she say to the tiny child?
The naga and nagini pacified the naga princes. Yet in their hearts remained resentment.
A few days later, the wife was sent back to her in‑laws’ house. There too she began to be respected. Thus the sisters‑in‑law began to envy her. On the other side the naga princes also bore resentment toward her and her child. So they came to the house to bite him and hid.
Meanwhile the youngest daughter‑in‑law came carrying a pot of water. She stumbled at the gate and said: “Khamma, my bandiya-buchiya brothers.”
Hearing this, the naga princes thought: “Sister is so kind; she still remembers us.” Several times they felt strange warmth in their hearts. Seeing her love, the naga princes gave up the thought of biting the child.
One day the little child spilled the copper milk ladle belonging to the elder sister‑in‑law. She angrily said: “What happened by spilling milk? You are from a big household—tomorrow you can raise cows and buffaloes. But how can we?”
Hearing this, Radha was very upset. That day she took the child and went to Nagmata and voiced her sorrow.
Nagmata gave her reassurance—and the next day sent cows along with the naga princes. Some of those cows were even given to the elder sister‑in‑law. This made them very happy. The entire house filled with joy.
O Nag Devta, may those who blessed Radha also receive blessings and abundance!