In Uttar Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is being celebrated with full religious fervour today. The festival is also celebrated as Khichdi in the eastern and Awadh regions of the State. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in Gorakhpur to celebrate the Khichdi festival. He offered Khichdi to Guru Gorakhshanath on this auspicious day.
Offering ‘khichdi’ to Baba Gorakshanath on Makar Sankranti is considered auspicious. Going by tradition, Chief Minister and Gorakshapithadhishwara Yogi Adityanath offered khichdi to the lord in the wee hours today. Khichdi from Nepal’s royal family was also offered to the deity. A month-long Khichdi Mela has also begun in the Gorakhnath Temple.
The Chief Minister is himself looking after the Mela arrangements. Thousands of devotees from across the state and adjoining areas of the neighbouring Bihar and Nepal are in the city to offer Khichdi to Baba Gorakhshanath.
Long queues of devotees are being witnessed outside the Gorakhnath Temple right from early morning today. Offering khichdi to the diety will continue for weeks.
Despite of biting cold thousands of devotees have started taking dips at holy rivers from the early morning on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.
Devotees along with saints have flocked to the Ghats of holy rivers across the state since early morning and taking bath on the occasion. of Makar Sankranti. Heavy rush of devotees can be seen at the banks of river Ganga in Hapur, Garhmukteshwar Kanpur Varanasi Ghazipur and Ballia.
This is also an important bathing festival of about one and a half month long Magh Mela, being held on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati in Prayagraj.
Several dedicated religious programmes are being organized in Magh mela area.
Many ashram pandals will be also organizing traditional community lunch of rice feast -Khichri. Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath will do special pooja and offer Khichri Prasad at Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur, after which the famous one month long Khichri mela will start here.
Meanwhile, the main roads in Hyderabad city wore a near-deserted look yesterday as most Hyderabadis left for their hometowns to celebrate Makara Sankranti. The series of holidays accompanied by the festival left otherwise congested streets like Khairatabad, Ameerpet, Punjagutta, Malakpet, and Uppal less populous.
However, in sharp contrast, excited activity and movement were witnessed at Tank Bund, Lumbini Park, NTR Gardens, Shilparamam, and other sightseeing places, with locals going there in large numbers owing to holidays. Some public Places like Necklace Road, NTR Stadium, and Parade Ground turned into crowded areas with kites of myriad hues and designs flying in the air.
Similarly, many flocked to markets to shop for kites, manjha, and other festive items. Markets in Begum Bazaar, Dhoolpet, and Mangalhat were flooded with customers.
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