Which festival, celebrated in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, honours Gogaji, the folk deity worshipped as a protector against snakes?

Gugga Naumi (also called Goga Navami) is a festival of snake worship celebrated in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. It honours Gogaji, also known as Guga or Jahar Veer Goga, a folk hero and deity who is believed to protect his devotees from snakebites.

Gogaji is one of the most popular folk deities of north-western India. According to tradition, he was a Rajput warrior-king of the Chauhan clan who ruled in the region of present-day Rajasthan in the medieval period. Many legends are told about his bravery and his power over snakes. He is worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims, who call him Zahir Pir, which shows the shared culture of the region. His main shrine, called Goga Medi, is in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, where a large fair is held at the time of the festival.

Gugga Naumi falls on the ninth day (navami) of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September), the day after Krishna Janmashtami. On this day, devotees offer prayers, food and sweets at shrines of Gogaji, which are often marked by a stone or an image of the deity riding a horse with a snake. Groups of devotees carry long poles decorated with colourful cloth, peacock feathers and flags, called "chhadi", in processions, accompanied by the beating of drums and the singing of songs about Gogaji's life. In Himachal Pradesh, the festival is celebrated with devotional singing that goes on for several days.

Snake worship is also central to Nag Panchami, celebrated across India in the month of Shravana, when people offer milk and prayers to snake images.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Teej is a monsoon festival in which women pray to Goddess Parvati.
• ✗Lohri is a winter harvest festival of Punjab, celebrated with bonfires in January.
• ✗Baisakhi is the harvest festival of Punjab, which also marks the founding of the Khalsa.