The Chief Minister, who is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath Math, entered the sanctum sanctorum around 3.40 am and performed special worship in accordance with the Nath tradition. He offered ‘Adesh’ to Guru Gorakhnath, blew the ceremonial whistle worn around his neck and bowed in reverence before the deity. Khichdi, along with vegetables, was offered as part of the ritual, including the sacred offering sent by the Nepal Royal Family.
Following the early morning puja, Yogi Adityanath toured the temple परिसर and extended Makar Sankranti greetings to devotees. Soon after, the ritual for common devotees to offer khichdi formally began, marking the start of one of eastern Uttar Pradesh’s largest religious gatherings.
By 8 am, officials estimated that around three lakh devotees had already offered khichdi at the temple. Long queues stretched outside the complex, with devotees waiting for nearly an hour for darshan. The temple premises echoed with the sound of drums, conch shells and devotional chants of “Guru Gorakhnath” and “Har Har Mahadev,” creating a festive and spiritual atmosphere.
Due to the overwhelming crowd, many devotees offered khichdi from outside the sanctum sanctorum. Volunteers and temple staff collected rice, lentils, sesame seeds and other offerings, giving the impression of grains showering across the परिसर as hundreds of hands extended offerings simultaneously.
A significant number of devotees arrived from Nepal, where Baba Gorakhnath is revered as a प्रमुख deity. Many said the tradition of offering khichdi at Gorakhnath Temple on Makar Sankranti has been followed for generations in their families.
To ensure smooth conduct of the event, extensive security and crowd management arrangements were made. Temple volunteers, police personnel and administrative officials were deployed at multiple points to regulate movement and assist devotees.
The annual Khichdi Mela at Gorakhnath Temple is considered a symbol of faith and cultural continuity in the region. Officials said the flow of devotees is expected to continue throughout the day, with arrangements in place to handle the large turnout while maintaining safety and order.
