Khichchdi Mela- a confluence of spirituality, unity and
fun
Gorakhpur is known for Gorakhnath temple all over the world
and Makar Sankranti fair, popularly known as Khichdi Mela is
organized every year at Gorakhnath Temple. The fair continues over a month and
devotees from all over the area and Nepal come to offer khichdi in
the temple. Visitors get immersed in the myriad colors and sounds at the month
long Khichadi Mela held in the premises of the 52 acre Guru Gorakhnath temple
compound, built in the memory of Baba Gorakhnath who is known to popularise
Hath Yoga. A lot of shops and food stalls get set up around the temple and sell
items including local sweets, jewellery, utensils, hand-made shoes, artifacts,
toys and traditional garments.
Children enjoy slides, swings and various other fun rides at
the venue.
People wait in long queues to offer Khichdi (a
mixture of rice and pulse) and it as also distributed among devotees as
Prasad. PK Lahiri, scholar and environmentalist, describes the story
behind Khichdi, “ Baba Gorakshnath was a native of Kangra in
Himanchal Pradesh and he use to visit Ma Jawala Devi temple, once Ma called him
for lunch but he refused as animals were sacrificed there. Ma became angry and
from then what ever he tried to eat turned into pieces of meat so he lived only
on water for a year and reached the place where Gorakhnath temple is situated
now. Ma saw his pain and forgave him and tiik a face of old woman sat his way.
When Baba begged her she offered Khichdi and the day was of
Makarsankranti. Thus the tradition of offering khichdi on the day of
makarsankranti came into tradition in Gorakhnath temple. ”
The head priest of the temple, Mahant Adityanath, says,
“Devotees offer Khichdi to Baba Gorakhnath and hope it will bring
good luck and prosperity to them. People believe that their wishes will come
true if they offer prayers on this day when the sun changes the zodiac and
herald a new beginning. The day is auspicious for any new beginning.” “
Gorakhnath temple has been constructed where the 12th century
Hathyogi Baba Gorakhnath said to have meditated. In the sanctum sanctorum of the
temple, Baba Gorakhnath is portrayed as the manifestation of Bhagwan Shiva in
deep meditation posture. The temple had a long tradition that the first
offering of the porridge to the deity on Makar Sankranti would be made by the
king of Nepal.” Mahant added.
On the methods of celebration of Khichchdi, Damodar
Upadhyaya, says, “It is good to take a holy dip on Makarsankranty between
sunrise and sunset. The dip in the holy rivers including Ganga, Yamuna,
Godavri, Krishna, Kaveri and so on is considered to be of high merit. One
should make donations and also take care to do good things from the auspicious
period of Makarsankranti to Rathsaptami.”
Stating the importance of the occasion, Ram Bahadur Yadav,
research scholar, ancient history, says, “Makarsankranti is Sun denotes
knowledge , light and wisdom thus Makar Sankranti signifies that we should turn
away from the darkness of delusion in which we live, and begin to enjoy a new
life. It gives us the message to inculcate wisdom, knowledge and spirituality.”
The festival is a mark of unity as people from all walks of
life and religions come here and enjoy the majestic feast of Makarsankranti and
have fun in fair. Asgar Ali, a shopkeeper in the fair , says, “Every year I set
shoe stall here. Many people especially from Muslim community come from distant
areas for selling things here. I relish khichdi Prasad and I have a
lot of faith in it. “
A huge crowd of people throng the temple for offering
Khichchdi and to have fun in Khichchdi mela and it becomes a tuff task for the
administration makes full safety and security arrangements. Last year
1,500 volunteers were deployed to take care of the visitors.
