Gorakhpur: Gorakhnath Temple will celebrate Sri Krishna Janmashtami with traditional fervour, grandeur and devotion on Friday. The festivities will begin at 7pm and continue till midnight, culminating in the ceremonial appearance of Lord Krishna and the traditional Jhulan ceremony by Gorakshapeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath.According to temple authorities, a series of cultural and devotional programmes have been planned for the occasion. Chief priest Yogi Kamalnath said the Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Bhavan will host a Krishna Balroop Fancy Dress Competition for children, along with a bhajan sandhya.The fancy dress competition will be organised in two categories by a team led by folk singer Rakesh Srivastava. The Kanha category will be open to children aged 1 to 5 years, while the Gopal category will be for children aged 6 to 8 years. Registration will be conducted at the venue.All participating children, including those who do not win the competition, will be felicitated. Rakesh Srivastava’s troupe will also present devotional songs and cultural performances during the programme.Meanwhile, a separate bhajan programme will be organised in front of the sanctum sanctorum of the main temple from 7 pm onwards. The programme will be presented by a team led by Dharmendra Kumar Srivastava of Hanumat Sangeet Ashram Evam Seva Sansthan.At midnight, following special prayers and rituals, Gorakshapeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath will perform the traditional Jhulan ceremony. He will gently place the infant form of Lord Krishna in a cradle and rock it amid devotional chants and celebrations, marking the ceremonial appearance of Lord Krishna.
