Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

YAGNA TIME

- Abdul Jadid and Rajesh Kumar Singh letters@hindustant­imes.com n

GORAKHPUR/LUCKNOW: The state police have made elaborate security arrangemen­ts in view of chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to Gorakhpur ahead of Dussehra.

For the next three days, Yogi Adityanath will be in the role of the head priest of Gorakhnath Temple.

He will stay at the temple and perform special pujas daily till the ninth of Navratra.

Inspector general of police (law and order) Hari Ram Sharma said a statewide alert had been sounded in view of Dussehra and Muharram.

“Since Gorakpur region is sensitive, Provincial Armed Constabula­ry (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, along with the civil police, have been deployed in the area. The CM will be provided security as per the protocol,” Sharma said.

SSP, Gorakhpur, Satyarth Aniruddha Pankaj said adequate force would be deployed on the procession route.

Continuing the decades old tradition, Yogi will lead a ‘shobha yatra’ from the temple in Gorakhpur on Vijay Dashmi (Dussehra). The procession will pass through the busy areas of the city and culminate at Mansarovar Ramleela ground, temple sources confirmed.

On Tuesday evening, Yogi worshipped Maa Katyayni, the sixth manifestat­ion of goddess Durga.

On the eighth day of Navratra, Yogi will participat­e in ‘shastra pujan’ (worship of weapons) and after performing ‘havan’ on the ninth day, he will hold a feast for children.

“Successive priests of Gorakhnath Temple, including Mahant Digvijayna­th and Mahant Avaidyanat­h, have followed this tradition and led ‘shobha yatras’ on Vijay Dashmi. Yogi has also been leading this procession since he was anointed as the chief priest in 2014 after the demise of Mahant Avaidyanat­h,” said Vinay Gautam, PRO of the temple.

FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS, YOGI ADITYANATH WILL BE IN THE ROLE OF THE HEAD PRIEST OF GORAKHNATH TEMPLE.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Chief minister Yogi Adityanath performing ‘yagna’ on the seventh day of Navratra at Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur on Wednesday.
HT PHOTO Chief minister Yogi Adityanath performing ‘yagna’ on the seventh day of Navratra at Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur on Wednesday.
 ?? PTI FILE ?? Yogi Adityanath has been leading the ‘shobha yatra’ since he was appointed Gorakhnath Temple’s mahant in 2014.
PTI FILE Yogi Adityanath has been leading the ‘shobha yatra’ since he was appointed Gorakhnath Temple’s mahant in 2014.

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