The after the celebrations of Shri Krishna Janmasthmi, Gugga Navami is celebrated in the North-Western parts of India with great zeal. The celebrations of Gugga Navami are great festival like other festivals in India. It is celebrated in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the month of Bhadrapada, on day of Navami of Krishna Paksha which falls in the month of August every year.

The day is celebrated in the honour of Jaaharveer Gogga Ji, the peer (deity) as per Hindu Mythology. The followers of the deity make fast on this day. The month of Bhadrapada is celebrated in honour of Gugga Peer. The followers walk bare feet. They don’t even put the slippers in their feet. The deity Gugga Peer is honoured as the lord of snakes, i.e. why snakes are also worshiped on this day. It is believed that Gugga Peer saves peoples from the attack of snakes. The worshiping celebrations of deity Gugga Peer commenced with end of Shravana month. These celebrations, continues for nine days and on ninth day Gugga Navami is celebrated in Hindu families. In these nine days, Gugga Peer is worshiped at doorsteps in the form of Chhar/Nishan (a pious long stick beautified with coloured clothing’s, peacock plumage and hand driven fans). On ninth day, Gugga Peer is worshiped in the temple as per rituals.

According to Hindu mythology, Bachhal, the queen of Maru and the mother of Gugga Peer was the worshiper/follower of Gorkshnath. One day, Gorkshnath visited her city (Maru) to meet her with his disciples. When queen gets to knew about the visit of her Guru, she became happy and started to preparations for the welcome of his Guru. On the other hand, Guru ordered his disciple to go around the city and beg for some food. The disciple went at the palace of queen where he was asked to take meals. The queen offered him the jewelers and expensive things. But the disciple refused to take all of these and asked for a bowl of grains, the wheat. The queen says proudly, the stores are full of tons of wheat, is this bowl is sufficient? However, the disciple asked only to fill the bowl with wheat grains. She was surprised that the whole has been fit in the small bowl and still the bowl was not full. To see this, the queen was surprised and enlightened with powers of bagger and apologized for her behaviour. At the same time queen told her pain not having a child. The bagger suggested her to meet his Guru. Next morning, queen met to Guru who gave her a fruit and blessed her with a son who will be able to control the snakes and will eventually became the lord of snakes.

When Gugga grownup and achieved the marriageable age, the princess of Raja (King) Milap was chosen. But the King denied the proposal. To marry with the princess, Guru Gorkshnath bitten the bitten the bride with snake. The Vasuki Nag (Vasuki snake) told the King to call Gugga to save the life princess and he did same and the pricess was well and married with Gugga.

It is believed that the place or home, where the worship of deity is performed, gives relief from snakes. While worshiping the celebrations of the deity, some followers beat their own body with iron chains. It is believed that while performing this, the followers will be free from evils or omens. In these days, chanting prayers or songs are sung in honour of the deity. Some peoples also paint their body with snake pictures with black colour. On this festival milk is also poured in the holes of snakes. At morning of Navami, the followers worship the deity at their home.

In many homes, Jagran (not sleep whole night) for the deity is performed and deity is worshiped. Before the jagran started, a dinner is offered to the gathered followers.

The celebrations are performed jointly by the many families and snakes are also worshiped, the followers walks with bare feet, the Gugga Navami teaches us to be united and love each other and respect other creatures on the earth also.