Gorakhpur: Chief Minister and Goraksh Peethadheeshwar Yogi Adityanath on Friday performed ‘Kanya Pujan’, as per the tradition of Gorakshpeeth, on the ninth day of Sharadiya Navratri at the Gorakhnath Temple.
Following traditional rituals, the CM washed the feet of nine unmarried girls and worshipped them as per the rituals, including covering them with chunari, performing aarti, serving them food with devotion, and seeking their blessings by offering them ‘Dakshina’. He also performed Batuk Puja on the occasion.
The ceremony took place on the first floor of his residential complex at the temple, where Yogi washed the feet of the nine girls one by one using water from a brass plate. He applied tilak made of roli, sandalwood, curd, akshat, and barley grown at the Shaktipeeth altar to their foreheads before honouring them with garlands, chunaris, gifts, and dakshina.
After the rituals, he personally served the girls fresh food prepared in the temple’s kitchen. In addition to these nine girls, many other children, both boys and girls, were served food with the same devotion and offered gifts and Dakshina.
The joy and excitement on the children’s faces, especially after receiving the CM’s warmth and affection, were heartwarming. With great respect and care, he washed the feet of the nine girls and Batuk Bhairav and ensured their satisfaction throughout the ceremony.
As he served the children, Yogi continued to engage with them, making sure every plate was generously filled with prasad while also giving clear instructions to the temple staff to ensure no child was left without.
During the ceremony, Gorakhnath temple’s chief priest Yogi Kamalnath, Mahamandaleshwar Santosh Das, alias Satua Baba from Kashi, Dwarika Tiwari, Virendra Singh, Durgesh Bajaj, Amit Singh Monu, and Vinay Gautam were present. Earlier, in the morning worship session, CM Yogi worshipped Maa Siddhidatri in the Shaktipeeth of the temple with rituals.
