The traditional Vijayadashami festival commenced with great devotional fervour at the Gorakhnath Temple on Thursday morning. The day's events are being led by Gorakshpeethadhishwar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The rituals began in the morning, with Yogi Adityanath, dressed in the special attire of the Nathpeeth, performing a special puja for Shrinathji (Guru Gorakhnath). Following this, he visited and worshipped all the consecrated deities within the temple complex with due rites. The entire temple premises resonated with the sounds of the Nathpanth's traditional instruments, including the Nagphani (serpentine horn), Shankh (conch), Dhol (drum), Ghant (bell) and Damru.

Schedule Of Events For The Day

1:00 PM: The Tilakotsav (tilak ceremony) is scheduled to be held at the temple's Digvijaynath Auditorium, during which the Chief Minister will bless his disciples and devotees.

4:00 PM: The Gorakshpeethadhishwar's grand Vijay Shobhayatra (victory procession) will depart from the temple complex. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will lead the procession, riding on the Vijayrath (victory chariot).

The procession will conclude at the Mansarovar Temple. There, he will offer prayers to Devadhidev Mahadev and all other enshrined deities.

Following the prayers, he will proceed to the Mansarovar Ramlila Maidan to perform the Rajtilak (coronation) of Lord Shri Ram on the Ramlila stage. He will also perform the aarti for Lord Shri Ram, Mother Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman, and deliver an address to the public.

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Upon the procession's return to the Gorakhnath Temple in the evening, a Sahbhoj (community feast) will be organised.

Later in the night, the unique Patra Puja ritual will be held. In this ceremony, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in his capacity as the Gorakshpeethadhishwar, will assume the role of a Dandadhikari (judicial officer) to symbolically resolve disputes among the saints. The saints, in turn, will worship him in the form of a Patra Devta.

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