GOGAJI FAIR, GOGA MEDI

Celebrated at : 59 Kms. away from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Attraction : Goga Medi

Gogaji Fair is held in the memory of a popular hero of the area who is known as Goga Veer among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among the Muslims. The Kayam Khani Muslims claim descent from him and regard him as a peer (saint). The devotees of Gogaji can be found in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Gujarat, an annual procession is taken out in honour of the great warrior.

Gogaji is popular as a snake-god and almost every village in Rajasthan has a 'Than' (sacred place) dedicated to him. Staunch believers have faith that invoking Gogaji will help to cure a snake bite or other diseases and many visit the Gogaji Fair to make a wish or for expressing their gratitude when their wishes come true.

It is believed that Gogaji went into 'samadhi' at the place now known as Goga Medi and thousands of devotees gather to pay homage at this memorial annually in the month of Bhadrapada during the Gogaji Fair, which lasts for 3 days.

The 'samadhi' is a marble structure with two minarets and fortified by a boundary wall. The idol of Gogaji is seated on a blue horse with a snake coiled around the neck. An inscription in Persian can be seen at the main entrance, which describes Mahmud Ghazni's regard for Gogaji. He had arranged for the renovation of the memorial as a token of gratitude when his wish was fulfilled

OFFERINGS & RITUALS

The main mode of worship is rubbing incense at the samadhi. Offerings of coconuts, 'batashas' (sugar drops) and cash are made at the samadhi. Priests are engaged by the devout for conducting special prayers in which praises of Gogaji are sung. The atmosphere inside the hall is serene and sanctified. Fragrance and incense heighten the feeling of purity and devotion.

Outside the main hall, Nath priests can be seen carrying whips (replicas of Gogaji's 'chabuk'), which are considered lucky and offerings are made to them. Many people can be seen singing and dancing, carrying multicoloured flags called 'nishans' in their hands. Drums and gongs provide rhythm to the hymn singing.