I tried to locate the corn-cob spires of the Gorakhnath Math from a few streets away. The temple was not imposing enough to catch the eye from afar; yet, figuratively, it does touch every corner of Gorakhpur, a town near the Nepal border in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Driving through the streets, we saw snapshots of its influence. The math runs dozens of schools and colleges, a free hospital and bhandara (kitchen). The temple authorities were building a structure near a busy road to rehabilitate street vendors. It was impossible to find someone who had not visited the math.
The temple is the spiritual, geographical and political epicentre of the town. And its mahant (chief priest), Yogi Adityanath, is the chief minister of the state. Gorakhpur has sent Adityanath to Parliament five times; he is trying to get into the assembly this time, from the Gorakhpur Urban seat.
His poll machinery, expectedly, is in full force. As we entered the temple complex, spread over 55 acres, the mood was festive. The Khichdi Mela was on. On the first two days of the annual, month-long event, devotees offer khichdi ingredients. As per tradition, the initial offering comes from the royal family of Nepal. Apparently, lakhs of devotees, mostly from Purvanchal and Bihar, turn up in the first two days.
This story is from the March 06, 2022 edition of THE WEEK.
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This story is from the March 06, 2022 edition of THE WEEK.
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