Goga Navmi (23-08-2011)

Legends of Gauga Navmi

Guga is celebrated as a powerful personality who had supernatural powers to control snakes. He was a Rajput prince and hero. He was specially blessed by Baba Goraknath before his birth as his mother was ardent believer of Baba Goraknath. His mother was childless for a long period. She observed hard penances and got blessings of Shri Goraknath.

Some people also regard Gogaji as a snake-god and almost all the Rajasthani villages has a ‘Than’ (sacred place) dedicated to him. The devotees come to visit the place and believe that Gogaji grants the wishes of his believers, expecially, in case of curing snakebites and other diseases. His ’samadhi’ is made of marble and has two minarets and a boundary wall.

Gogaji is regarded as a saint by the Kayam Khani Muslims who are beieved to be his descendants. He is an eminent warrior-hero of the region. Hindus called him by the name of Goga Veer while Muslims call him Jahar Peer. His devotees spread across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, where an annual procession is taken out in his honor.

Celebrations of Guga Navami

Shri Guga is depicted as riding a blue horse and with a snake coiled around his neck. He holds blue and yellow flags. There is popular belief that if prayed on this day, children will be protected against all the dangers of serpents by Guga. So women pray and perform poojas to Guga god for health and longevity of their children. Childless married women ask for children.

In Guga mari temples, the deity of Guga is decorated with flowers. Processions and poojas are held in honor of Shri Guga. Guga Navami melas or fairs are held in rural parts of North Indian states. People recite prayers in honor of Shri Guga recite his pastimes. All this makes this festival really special in hearts of followers of Shri Guga It is very similar to Naga Panchami or Nag Chaturthi festival celebrated all over India.

 Puja Samagri And Vidhi

Before one day, people need to make Gogaji out of Soil and the next day they  do its puja.  For Puja they take Kumkum (Vermillion), Rice, Moli (Red Thread), Flowers, A Small Pot of Water and Diya or Agarbatti (Incense Sticks). For Bhog or Prasad they make Kheer.

They put Kumkum and Rice on Gogaji’s forehead and then offer all the other things. Aftter doing this they lit Diya or Agarbatti. Then they offer Kheer to Gogaji with Puri and Ghee and bow to him and pray him to protect their children and family.

There is also a tradition in Rajasthan that the Rakhi which is tied at their hand on Raksha Bandhan day is untied on this day and is then offered to Gogaji. From the Raksha Bandhan day to this day they have to keep their Rakhi tied at their hand. They cant untie it before this day.