Gorakhpur/UNI: Peethadhishwar of Gorakshpeeth and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday performed 'Kanya Pujan' and offered prayers to 'Matri Shakti' (mother power) by washing the feet of maidens in Gorakhpur on the occasion of 'Maha Navami', the ninth day of Shardiya Navratri.

‘Goraksh Peethadhishwar’ worshipped nine girls, symbolising nine manifestations of the goddess Durga. As part of the ritual, girls were made to stand in a metallic plate as Yogi washed their feet, applied 'roli tilak on their foreheads and performed their 'Aarti' amid chanting of mantras.

After the puja, Yogi served food to the girls with his own hands in the Gorakhnath temple kitchen. Apart from these nine girls, he also worshipped and performed aarti for the girls and boys who had arrived in large numbers.

He gave them 'Dakshina' (donations) and gifts while seeking their blessings during the Kanya Pujan organised in the Gorakhnath Temple. Following tradition, the CM also performed Batuk Puja, considered to be manifestations of Kal Bhairav.

During the Kanya Puja, the head priest of Gorakhnath temple Yogi Kamal Nath, Mahamandaleshwar Santosh Das Satua Baba, who came from Kashi, Mahant Ravindradas of Kalibari, the priest of Gorakhnath temple Acharya Ramanuj Tripathi Vedic were present.

Before this, CM Yogi offered prayers to Maa Siddhidatri in the Shaktipeeth of the temple.