Relation between tawa, roti, and Nag Panchami
India is a land of festivals, and every festival is celebrated with its own set of beliefs and traditions. One such festival that is celebrated on the 5th day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Sawan or Shravan is Nag Panchami. This year, the festival is celebrated on 29 July, 2025. Traditionally, on this day devotees offer milk and prayers to snake idols to honor the serpent gods. Another traditional belief associated with this festival is to avoid using iron utensils (especially tawa) when cooking and making rotis. Let us find out why.
Disclaimer: The content reflects traditional customs and the beliefs of people who observe them. It is intended to inform, not to impose or validate any particular viewpoint.
Religious belief
In Hindu tradition, tawa is used for making rotis. And as per experts, tawa represents the hood of a serpent, which is sacred to the Nagas. On this festiva; using tawa is seen as a disrespect to the serpent gods and hence it is suggested to avoid using it on this day.
Also, use of iron is avoided on this day as it is believed to have negative energies. And, since the snake god is often shown in its natural form, using iron utensils or objects on this day is thought to disrupt the positive energy the serpent deities bring.
What does astrology say?
In Vedic astrology, tawa is linked to the planet Rahu, which is known for causing confusion and sudden changes. Using an iron tawa on Nag Panchami could make Rahu's negative effects stronger, leading to problems and difficulties in life. Hence, to avoid the hurdles people restrain from using iron utensils like tawa on Nag Panchami. This helps to reduce Rahu's impact and keeps the focus on positive worship and respect for the serpent deities. This helps to reduce Rahu's impact and keeps the focus on positive worship and respect for the serpent deities.
What is traditionally cooked on this day
In some places, people make plain pooris. And those who want more flavour add salt and ajwain to the dough to make ajwain poori. In Eastern UP, chana dal poori is made on this day and is seasoned with hing. Along with it, a bhog of rasiyaw is offered to the deity. Rasiyaw is a rice pudding made with broken rice, water, jaggery, and grated ginger. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, people make a steamed whole wheat flour cake called kanole for this festival. And in Karnataka, experts say no-cook laddoos are made using roasted gram flour or rice flour, jaggery, and coconut.
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