Gorakhpur: Gorakshpeethadheeshwar and chief minister Yogi Adityanath will lead the Guru Purnima celebrations at Gorakhnath Temple on Wednesday, offering special prayers to Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath and paying homage to the revered gurus of the Nath tradition.The ceremonial programmes will begin at 5 am with the traditional worship of Guru Gorakhnath. As per Nath sect customs, a ‘rot’ (thick roti/unleavened bread) offering will be made to the deity after the rituals. Yogi will perform prayers at various shrines within the temple complex, including those dedicated to Nath yogis and the samadhis of former Gorakshpeeth mahants. The ritualproceedings will conclude with a collective *aarti* around 7 am.Following the morning ceremonies, the seven-day ‘Shri Ram Katha’, which began on Jul 23, will culminate with a ‘poornahuti’ programme at Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Sabhagar between 9 am and 11:30 am.An ‘ashirvachan’ (discourse) and devotional music programme will be held thereafter, during which devotees and disciples of the Nath tradition will receive blessings from the Gorakshpeethadheeshwar.The temple administration has also arranged a bhandara (community feast) from 12:30 pm on Guru Purnima, with large numbers of devotees expected to participate in the celebrations.
