Chief Minister and Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath, who has deep reverence for the divine feminine and has been advancing numerous initiatives for the dignity and self-reliance of women, performed Kanya Pujan on Monday, on the occasion of Maha Navami of Sharadiya Navratri, in accordance with the tradition of Gorakshpeeth. During the ritual held at Gorakhnath Temple, the Gorakshpeethadhishwar washed the feet of 9 girls representing the 9 forms of Goddess Durga.
He performed the prescribed rituals of worship, draped them in chunris, performed aarti and reverently served them a meal. He also sought their blessings by offering dakshina and gifts. The Chief Minister also performed Batuk Pujan, upholding the tradition.
Amid the chanting of Vedic mantras, the Gorakshpeethadhishwar washed the feet of 9 young girls with water in a brass platter in the dining hall on the first floor of the Annakshetra at Gorakhnath Temple. Amid the chanting of mantras from the Shri Durga Saptashati, he applied tilak made of roli, sandalwood paste, curd, akshat and other sacred substances to their foreheads.
He performed their abhishek with flowers and jwara (sprouted barley shoots) grown at the altar of the Shaktipeeth. He adorned them with garlands, draped them in chunris, and sought their blessings by offering gifts and dakshina.
After the worship, CM Yogi personally served the girls and Batuks freshly prepared food prasad from the temple kitchen. In addition to the 9 girls, the Chief Minister also performed worship and aarti for the large number of girls and Batuks who had arrived. Arrangements for the Kanya Bhoj were made on both the first floor and the ground floor of the Annakshetra.
All the girls and Batuks were served food with reverence and offered gifts and dakshina.
The eagerness of the young girls and Batuks to receive the affection and fondness of the Chief Minister, who shares a special bond with children, was clearly evident. With a sense of hospitality and affection, the Chief Minister washed the feet of each of the 9 girls and Batuk Bhairav in turn and performed their worship.
Thereafter, while personally serving food to the girls and Batuks, CM Yogi continued to engage them in warm and affectionate conversations. He also ensured that no girl’s or Batuk’s plate was left short of prasad. In this regard, he continued to issue instructions to those responsible for the temple arrangements as well.
During the Kanya Pujan, Gorakhnath Temple’s chief priest, Yogi Kamalnath, Mahant Ravindradas of Kalibari, and several other saints were present. Before the Kanya Pujan, CM Yogi also worshipped Maa Siddhidatri at the temple’s Shaktipeeth during the Monday morning worship session, following all prescribed rituals.
Gorakshpeethadhishwar performs Kanya Pujan of 9 girls representing the 9 forms of Goddess Durga on Maha Navami of Sharadiya Navratri
Chief Minister serves food with his own hands, seeks blessings from the girls by offering dakshina and gifts
