Makar Sakranti: The festival of Makar Sankranti was celebrated with pomp in Gorakhpur. Gorakshpeethadhishwar and Chief Minister Mahant Yogi Adityanath offered the first khichdi of faith to Guru Gorakhnath at four o’clock in the morning on Sunday as per the specific tradition of Nathpanth and wished for Lokmangal. After that Khichdi sent from the Nepal dynasty was offered. Then the Nath yogis and sages offered khichdi and offered prayers.
After about half an hour, the doors of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple were opened for the general public and the offering of the sacred khichdi of public faith started. The process of offering khichdi and auspicious wishes to the devotees gathered in lakhs has started. This process continued till late night. According to an estimate, about five lakh people offered khichdi at Baba’s feet. CM and Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath, as per the tradition of Nathpanth, took the order by proving to Lord Guru Gorakhnath by whistling with holy and singi nad, sitting on the ground. Then after duly worshiping, offered khichdi from Gorakshpeeth. After that took blessings by worshiping the Akhand Jyoti lit from Tretayug.
Prasad of Khichdi was distributed to all the devotees with reverence in the temple premises. Forgetting the discrimination of rich-poor, caste and class, everyone took the prasad of khichdi. A banquet was also organized for the invited guests in the temple premises. After offering the first khichdi, Chief Minister and Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath extended hearty greetings and best wishes to all the residents of the state and said that the festival of Makar Sankranti is a wonderful event to worship the father of the world Sun, worship nature and establish harmony with it.
Said that the festival of Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different names and forms in the whole 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, engaging in a program of sadhana and rituals. Makar Sankranti bath has started with full enthusiasm and enthusiasm in Prayagraj and other places of pilgrimage, while lakhs of devotees have come to Gorakhpur to offer holy pot of faith to Lord Shiva incarnate Gorakhnath.