India | Punjab

Guga Navami

Guga Pir



Guga Navami is a festival celebrated in Punjab and Haryana. Celebrated during the month of August it is dedicated to Guga, the snake king. Guga is believed to posses supernatural powers and could cure a person of snakebite. He is worshipped in a shrine called ‘Mari’, which is a cubical building containing a minaret on each corner and a tomb inside. Such shrines can be found in most villages in Punjab and Haryana.

On the occasion of Guga Navami a structure called ‘chari’ is built from a long bamboo, which is adorned on the top with peacock feathers, coconut, colored threads, hand fans and a blue flag. This ‘chari’ is taken by saints around the village in a procession accompanied by music. People offer their prayers to the ‘chari’ and give offerings, which are locally called ‘churmas.’ The procession is lead by 5 main dancers, who along with dancing and singing in the praise of the lord flog their chest with iron chains.



Updated on 23rd August, 2015

Keyword

Copyright 2014 by Online Highways LLC. Enjoy some India trivia. Send Us Your Comments