Yogi’s duties as CM will allow him to spend less time at Gorakhnath temple

In a break from tradition, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple, will be present at the temple only on the first, second and ninth days of the nine-day Navratri festival this year. He will also be here on the Vijaya Dashami (10th day). The festival begins on Thursday. Before becoming the chief minister, Adityanath in his capacity as the head priest used to confine himself to the temple premises for nine consecutive days to perform special pujas, havans and other rituals during Navratri.

In a break from tradition, chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is also the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple, will be present at the temple only on the first, second (till noon) and ninth days of the nine-day Navratri festival this year. He will also be here on the Vijaya Dashami (10th day). The festival begins on Thursday.

Before becoming the chief minister, Adityanath in his capacity as the head priest used to confine himself to the temple premises for nine consecutive days to perform special pujas, havans and other rituals during Navratri.

TheCM, who is arriving here on first day of Navratri on Thursday, will perform shakti puja on the day and take part in other rituals. He will leave for Varanasi the next day.

He will be back at the Gorakhnath temple on the ninth and 10th days to follow the rituals that have been held at the temple for years. As mahant of the Gorakhnath temple, Adityanath used to perform ‘shakti puja’ at around 3am followed by different rituals for the rest of the day during Navratri every year .

“He has to take care of 22 crore people of the state as CM. It’s not possible for him to attend all nine days of Navratri at the temple. He will perform the remaining rituals in Lucknow ,” said a temple associate.