Gorakhpur (UP), Oct 20 (PTI) Muslims and weavers welcomed the traditional Vijayadashami procession –led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from the Gorakhnath temple to the Manasarovar Ramlila ground — with floral showers on Tuesday.
The procession, a longstanding Gorakhnath temple tradition, began around 4.30 pm after Adityanath, also the Gorakshapeethadhishwar, offered prayers to Guru Gorakhnath, revered by the Nath sect as an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Dressed in traditional attire, Adityanath led the procession on a flower-decked chariot as devotees lined the route to catch a glimpse of him. The procession moved amid chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, traditional musical instruments, including nagfani, turhi, nagaras and damru, and performances by members of the Hanuman troupe.
As the procession left the temple premises, former Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy chairman Chaudhary Kaifulwara felicitated Adityanath with a garland. The chief minister acknowledged the welcome and distributed prasad from the temple’s nine-day Sharadiya Navratri rituals to Kaifulwara and other community members.
Kaifulwara said his family had welcomed the procession for generations, adding that the Gorakhnath Math regarded people as fellow human beings, beyond distinctions of faith and religion. Members of the Bunakar Welfare Society, including Uttar Pradesh Haj Committee member Junaid Ahmad Ansari and Azizul Hai, also welcomed the procession.
The Sindhi community welcomed Adityanath near the Shri Jhulelal temple, showering flowers on the procession as it moved towards the Manasarovar temple.
The chief minister offered prayers to Lord Shiva and other deities and performed an ‘abhishek’ of the deity amid Vedic chants at the Manasarovar temple. He then garlanded the statue of Bharat Ratna Dr B R Ambedkar outside the Ramlila ground before reaching the venue, where people welcomed the procession by showering flowers.
At the Ramlila ground, Adityanath performed the coronation ceremony of Lord Ram as part of the ongoing Ramlila celebrations. He also offered prayers to Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman and performed their aarti.
Ten groups of folk artists from different parts of Uttar Pradesh presented traditional performances at various points along the procession route, showcasing the state’s cultural heritage, including conch-shell blowing and dance by groups from Ayodhya, Banda, Gorakhpur and Mathura.
Elaborate security arrangements were made for the procession. PTI ABN ASD
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