Chief Minister and Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath on Sunday congratulated the people of the state on the occasion of Makar Sankranti/Khichdi festival and wished them happiness.
The chief minister said that Makar Sankranti was a festival that celebrated harmony with nature while worshipping the father of the world ‘Sun’ and nature.
Yogi said that the festival of Makar Sankranti was celebrated in different names and forms throughout the country. “Makar Sankranti is also celebrated as Khichdi festival in North India. On this auspicious occasion, lakhs of kalpavasi stay in Prayagraj for a month, meditating and performing rituals. People have started taking the holy bath in Prayagraj and other places of pilgrimage in the state with great enthusiasm on the occasion of Makar Sankranti while lakhs of devotees have come to Gorakhpur to offer holy pot of faith to Lord Shiva incarnate Gorakhnath,” Chief Minister Yogi added.
Wishing the people of the state an auspicious life, the chief minister said that the Uttarayan of Suryadev on this festival was considered an auspicious date for starting new works.
“Lakhs of devotees are celebrating the festival in Prayagraj and Gorakhpur and other pilgrimage centres like Garhmukteshwar in Hapur, Kachla Ghat in Budaun, Shuk Teerth in Muzaffarnagar, Kashi etc,” the chief minister remarked, pointing out that people were taking bath in rivers and lakes and also making donations, which has a special importance in Sanatan culture.
The chief minister said that the administration had made all arrangements for the safety and convenience of the devotees on Makar Sankranti. He said lakhs of devotees were present in Gorakhpur to offer holy porridge of faith throughout the day.
According to the chief minister, traditional events are also starting on Makar Sankranti and a month-long Khichdi fair has started in the Gorakhnath temple. Here too, special care has been taken for the safety and convenience of the devotees and it is being monitored, he pointed out.
He said that Jagatpita Surya was the controller of the entire world. “May his grace remain on the entire state, on every devotee,” he remarked.
The chief minister celebrates Makar Sankranti and offers ‘khichdi’ at Gorakhnath temple. Praying for public welfare, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, offered ‘khichdi’ at the Gorakhnath temple. After the chief minister offered khichdi, lakhs of devotees who reached the temple from far and wide offered khichdi at the temple.
Lakhs of devotees reached the Gorakhnath temple amid the bitter cold to offer the khichdi to Shiva avatar Guru Gorakhnath. The one-month-long world-famous Khichdi fair, strengthening social harmony, also commenced in Gorakhpur. Special care has been taken for the safety of all the devotees. For this, complete arrangements have been made for all the facilities including security arrangements.
On Sunday, the ‘khichdi prasad’ was distributed to all the devotees in a joint feast in the temple premises.
