Chief Minister and Gorakshpeethadhishwar Yogi Adityanath on Sunday congratulated the people of the state on the occasion of Makar Sankranti/Khichdi festival and wished them happiness.
The Chief Minister said that Makar Sankranti was a festival that celebrated harmony with nature while worshipping the father of the world “Sun” and nature.
Yogi said that the festival of Makar Sankranti was celebrated in different names and forms throughout the country. "Makar Sankranti is also celebrated as Khichdi festival in North India. On this auspicious occasion, lakhs of kalpavasi stay in Prayagraj for a month, meditating and performing rituals. People have started taking the holy bath in Prayagraj and other places of pilgrimage in the state with great enthusiasm on the occasion of Makar Sankranti while lakhs of devotees have come to Gorakhpur to offer holy pot of faith to Lord Shiva incarnate Gorakhnath," Chief Minister Yogi added.
Wishing the people of the state an auspicious life, the chief minister said that the Uttarayan of Suryadev on this festival was considered an auspicious date for starting new works.
"Lakhs of devotees are celebrating the festival in Prayagraj and Gorakhpur and other pilgrimage centres like Garhmukteshwar in Hapur, Kachla Ghat in Budaun, Shuk Teerth in Muzaffarnagar, Kashi etc," the chief minister remarked, pointing out that people were taking bath in rivers and lakes and also making donations, which has a special importance in Sanatan culture.