Gorakhpur, October 1: Upholding the traditional practices of Gorakshapeeth, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Peethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath conducted Kanya Pujan on Mahanavami during Sharadiya Navratri at Gorakhnath Temple. This ritual signifies the Peeth’s profound respect for Matru Shakti, a commitment that Yogi Adityanath has actively pursued through various initiatives aimed at enhancing women’s safety, empowerment, and dignity since his tenure began. During the ceremony on Wednesday, he washed the feet of nine girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga, performed worship rituals, draped them with chunari, conducted aarti, served them food with devotion, and sought their blessings by offering dakshina and gifts. Adhering to tradition, the Chief Minister also performed Batuk Pujan (worship of young boys).
He washed the feet of the nine girls using a brass vessel filled with water in the temple’s dining hall, applied roli, sandalwood paste, curd, and rice grains (akshat) on their foreheads, and offered them flowers and durva grass, adorning them with garlands and chunaris. Each girl received gifts and dakshina before he sought their blessings. Additionally, he honored a six-month-old baby girl through worship and sought her blessings. In a symbolic act, he applied tilak to a boy dressed as Hanuman, adorned him with a garland, and draped a cloth over his shoulders. Following the rituals, CM Yogi served freshly prepared prasadam from the temple kitchen to the girls and boys.
Alongside the nine girls, he performed aarti for a large gathering of young girls and batuks (boys), ensuring that all were respectfully fed and given gifts and dakshina. The children eagerly anticipated the affection from their ‘Maharaj Ji’, their joy evident throughout the event. The girls beamed with happiness as they received dakshina directly from his hands. After the ceremonies, CM Yogi warmly interacted with the children, ensuring that no child’s meal lacked any part of the prasadam and instructing the temple staff to maintain proper arrangements. Among those present were Gorakhnath Temple’s chief priest Yogi Kamalnath and Jagadguru Swami Santoshacharya Satua Baba from Kashi.
Prior to the Kanya Pujan, CM Yogi also worshipped Goddess Siddhidatri at the temple’s Shaktipeeth during the morning puja session according to rituals.