Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 19 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday that lakhs of devotees have thronged Shaktipeeths and temples across the state on the occasion of Navami of Sharadiya Navratri.
Addressing the media during the Kanya Pujan event at Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister said, "During the Sharadiya Navratri, thousands of devotees across every district in the state set up Durga Puja pandals to perform rituals dedicated to the Jagatjanani Maa Bhagwati. Many also place a 'kalash' (sacred pot) in their homes, and today, on the auspicious occasion of Navami Tithi, they are participating in the worship of young girls (kanya pujan)."
He said there were large crowds of devotees at all Shaktipeeths and temples dedicated to the Goddess.
"Following the construction of a new corridor at the Maa Vindhyavasini Dham, the site has seen an influx of hundreds of thousands of devotees. Yesterday alone, over 25 lakh devotees offered prayers there. Today, too, a massive crowd has gathered since the 'Brahma Muhurta' (the early pre-dawn hours). I anticipate that the number of devotees will again reach between 20 and 25 lakh," Yogi said.
"Similarly, hundreds of thousands of devotees have arrived at the 'Shaktipeeth' Devipatan. At the Maa Shakumbhari Peeth in Saharanpur, thousands of devotees have gathered to express their deep reverence for the Jagatjanani Maa Bhagwati. In Sitapur, a large number of devotees have also visited the Lalita Devi Shaktipeeth, expressing their faith and devotion at the temples of the Jagatjanani Maa Bhagwati," he added.
The Chief Minister also linked the festival to governance through Mission Shakti.
"Our devotion to Maa Bhagwati goes beyond rituals and is reflected in practical functioning of governance and administration," CM Yogi said, adding that the Mission Shakti campaign is built on this same spirit of ensuring women's safety, dignity and self-reliance.
He added that the government has worked to strengthen the initiative.
The Chief Minister said every police station in the state now has a dedicated women's help desk and a separate room to handle women's safety issues, staffed by female beat officers or women sub-inspectors, while the 1090 women's helpline has also been made operational.
Earlier, CM Adityanath performed 'Kanya Pujan' on the occasion of Maha Navami on Monday, washing the feet of young girls and offering prayers.
The Chief Minister performed the traditional ritual at Gorakhnath Temple, where he worshipped the young girls as embodiments of shakti and sought blessings for peace and prosperity.
During the ceremony, the UP CM offered clothes, prasad, and dakshina to the girls after performing the pujan.
The nine-day festival of Navratri, dedicated to the worship of the nine forms of the divine feminine (Navadurga), is being celebrated across the country with immense religious fervour and devotion.