Gorakha-Gorakhpur ‘Khichadi Yatra’ Revives Centuries-Old Tradition

The ‘Khichadi Yatra,’ a symbolic journey connecting the holy Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakha, Nepal, to the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, has commenced today.

The annual pilgrimage, revived last year after a hiatus of over two decades, aims to promote the religious and cultural significance of the Gorakhnath Kalika Temple in Gorakha. Organized by the Gaumata Service Federation, Gorakha, and led by its president, Hom Singh Basnyat, the yatra seeks to boost religious tourism in the region.

Historically, a tradition existed to send ‘khichadi’ from the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakha to its counterpart in Gorakhpur during the Maghi festival. This offering, considered sacred, was part of a longstanding spiritual connection between the two regions.

The Khichadi Yatra set out this morning with a team of 60 individuals, including local representatives, amidst traditional music and hymns. The khichadi is ceremonially offered at the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur before being consumed as prasad.

Basnyat emphasized that the revival of this tradition will strengthen the religious ties between Nepal’s Gorakha and India’s Uttar Pradesh, fostering greater cultural exchange and attracting religious tourists to Gorakha.