The Khichdi fair organized in Gorakhnath temple on Makar Sankranti is a confluence of devotion, tradition and employment. This festival, associated with the Tretayugin tradition, is a symbol of social harmony, public faith and service to the needy.
Gorakhpur. The Khichdi Fair organized at Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur on the occasion of Makar Sankranti is a unique confluence of devotion, entertainment and employment. This fair starts about a fortnight before Makar Sankranti and continues for more than a month. The tradition of offering Khichdi to Mahayogi Guru Gorakhnath on the occasion of Uttarayan of Sun God is completely linked to folk faith.
The food offered in the form of Khichdi in Gorakhnath temple is distributed among the needy throughout the year. The food area of the temple is an example of this, where no needy person returns empty handed. It is believed that just as no devotee gets disappointed after offering Khichdi to Baba Gorakhnath, similarly no one leaves the temple hungry. This year Khichdi festival will be celebrated on 15 January.
Tradition of offering Khichdi related to Tretayuga
The tradition of offering Khichdi in Gorakhnath temple is considered to be of Treta Yugin. According to belief, Adiyogi Guru Gorakhnath once reached the court of Maa Jwala Devi located in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Mother arranged many dishes for him, but Baba said that he is a yogi and eats only the food received in alms.
He requested mother Jwala Devi to heat the water and set out for alms himself. While begging for alms, he reached Gorakhpur and meditated in the forest area situated on the banks of Rapti and Rohin rivers by inhaling dhuni. Impressed by his brilliance, people started donating rice and pulses in his Khappar.
On the day of Makar Sankranti, Khichdi was made from this food and this tradition later got established as Khichdi festival. It is said that even today water keeps boiling in Jwala Devi temple to cook Baba’s Khichdi.
Special puja and tradition of offering Khichdi on Makar Sankranti
According to the tradition of Gorakshpeethadhishwar Nath sect, on the holy festival of Makar Sankranti, people offer Khichdi to Guru Gorakhnath and pray for the happiness and prosperity of the entire society. Lakhs of devotees from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, different parts of the country and also from neighboring nation Nepal come to offer Khichdi to Baba Gorakhnath on this occasion.
In the morning of Makar Sankranti, first of all, on behalf of Gorakshpeeth, Peetadhishwar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offer Khichdi to Baba. After this, Khichdi brought by the Nepalese royal family is offered. Then the doors of the temple are opened for the common devotees and this process of public faith starts.
Khichdi Fair 2026: Administrative preparations and arrangements
Gorakhnath temple and fair premises are fully decorated and ready for the Khichdi festival. For the convenience of the devotees, accommodation, security and other basic arrangements have been ensured by the temple management and administration. Gorakshpeethadhishwar and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have reviewed the preparations for the Khichdi fair thrice so far, so that the devotees do not face any inconvenience.
Gorakhnath Temple, symbol of social harmony
Gorakhnath Temple is such a center of social harmony, where the boundaries of caste, creed and religion automatically disappear. There are shops of all communities, Hindu and Muslim, in the temple premises and livelihood of all is arranged without any discrimination.
Khichdi fair is also a means of livelihood for thousands of people. From permanent shopkeepers to temporary fair traders, a large number of people from the minority community are associated with this fair. He says that there has never been any discrimination here, rather a feeling of belonging and brotherhood is always felt. Various colors of shopping, entertainment and folk culture are seen in the fair, which makes it not only a religious but also a social and cultural festival.