Gorakhpur (UP) | No country and religion has such a rich tradition of festivals as Sanatan Dharma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday on the occasion of Holi and asserted that India moves ahead through festivals.

Addressing the traditional "Narsingh Shobhayatra' in Gorakhpur, he stressed that Holi gives out the message of an maintaining an "Akhand" (intact) country through unity. "The vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat' will be fulfilled," he stressed.

"No country in the world, no caste, no religion has such a rich tradition of festivals as Sanatan Dharma. We have faith in Sanatan Dharma and the faith is the soul of festivals. India moves ahead through festivals." Adityanath said.

"You have seen that those who oppose Sanatan Dharma have seen the ability ('saamarth') of Sanatan Dharma as well as that of India through the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. Over 66 crore devotees came together and got blessings in the mega bathing rituals at Sangam. There was no discrimination based on caste or region," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

Before the procession, Asityanath was seen squatting on the ground with seers for Holi celebrations. He also showered flowers on people taking part in the procession.

Yogi Adityanath celebrates Holi at Gorakhnath temple

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is also the Gorakshpeethadhiswar, started Holi celebration at the Gorakhnath temple on Friday, the state government said in a statement.

He visited the Gorakhnath temple mela ground, where Holika (demon king's sister) was burnt, worshipped the bhasm (ash) amid chanting of Vedic mantras, and performed aarti. After this ritual, seers and devotees applied tilak on Adityanath with this ash and took his blessings, the statement said.

From the Holika Dahan site, Adityanath visited the Shrinathji temple in the premises and offered Holika Bhasm to the diety. He also enjoyed 'Faag' songs organised on the platform of Shrinathji's temple, it said.

The Chief Minister then visited the gaushala (cow shed) in the temple premises and applied ash and colours on the cows. He fed them jaggery and served them, the statement said.

During his visit to the gaushala, the Chief Minister also fed grains to peacocks and ducks roaming nearby, it added