Gorakhnath Temple readies for month-long Khichdi fair from Makar Sakranti

New Delhi: Makar Sankranti is one of the best months in Hindu tradition for the beginning of any auspicious event. With the auspicious festival round the corner, the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur is all decked up for the festival. Month long Khichdi fair will be organised here, as per the tradition.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will follow the customary traditions by offering first Khichdi at the Gorakhnath temple, Gorakhpur on January 14.

The priest-turned-politician, also the Peetadheeshwar of Gorakhnath temple, CM Yogi will offer prayers and extend his wishes to the citizens of the country from the temple premises, also known as Gorakshpeeth.

After the Chief Minister, the Khichdi sent by the King of Nepal is offered to the Guru Gorakhshnath.

Makar Sankranti is one of the main festivals of Gorakhnath Temple. Lakhs of devotees from UP, Bihar, Nepal, and across the country throng the religious place during this period and offer Khichdi to Guru Gorakhshnath.

This tradition of offering khichdi to Baba Gorakshnath is centuries old and is celebrated with great joy and fervour at the Gorakhnath temple, dedicated to Guru Gorakhnath. The temple also holds a month-long Khichdi fair from the day of Makar Sankranti in the temple premises. Every Sunday and Tuesday during this fair has special significance.

History of Khichdi ceremony at Guru Gorakhshnath

It is believed that during the Treta Yuga, Siddha Guru Gorakshanath went to Jwala Devi temple, situated in Kangra district of Himachal where the goddess, Jwala Devi invited Guru Gorakshanath to dine. Seeing the Tamasi food (also known as Tamasic food) there, Gorakshanath said, “I accept only rice and pulses given in alms.” To which Jwala Devi replied, “Go and bring rice and pulses in alms till then I am boiling water to cook rice and dal.”

Later, Guru Gorkshnath reached Gorakhpur situated on the foothills of the Himalayas and placed his Bheekshapatra at the confluence of the Rapti and Rohini rivers, and started his spiritual practice. People started adding rice and pulses but it did not fill the Akshaypatra.

People were overwhelmed by considering it a miracle of Guru Gorakhshnath. Since then, the tradition of offering khichdi to Guru Gorakhnath is continued in Gorakhpur. On this day every year, devotees from across the world come here to offer khichdi in Guru Gorakshanath temple. Firstly, the devotees take bath in the sacred Bhima Sarovar of the temple and they perform rituals at the temple.

According to Hindu calendar, Makar Sankranti or Sankranthi is dedicated to Sun (Suryadev). On this day, the Sun begins its journey from Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice, signaling the start of warmer days.
It is celebrated in many places with different names like Bihu in the East, Lohri in the West, Khichdi and Tilwa Sankranti in the North, and Pongal in the South.