Nanaji’s efforts for a clean Holi paid off and the yatra became refined, but it was not possible to give it a grand appearance. In such a way, Nanaji contacted Mahant Digvijaynath, the then Peethadhishwar of Nath Peeth for this. Digvijaynath accepted his invitation and handed over this responsibility to his successor Avedyanath. The Narasimha Shobhayatra that comes out in the city on the day of Holi is an example of mutual harmony.
Devotees play Holi fiercely in this journey. Holi songs echo. Black and green colors are not used. Holi is played only with red-yellow colours. The credit for this goes to Nanaji Deshmukh.
Manoj Jalan, General Secretary of the Holikotsav Committee, which organizes the procession, says that Nanaji Deshmukh had come to Gorakhpur in 1939 as a campaigner of the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh.
At that time, black and green colors were used more in the procession of Lord Narasimha coming out of the bell tower, along with throwing mud, tearing people’s clothes, giving black vessels. In order to celebrate Holi in a clean manner, in 1944, Nanaji gathered some youths and took initiative towards change.
An elephant was arranged for the procession, the mahout was told that where a black or green colored drum was seen, he should make it fall by pointing to the elephant, this was done for two-three years. The youths also had to scuffle with some unruly people. Gradually only colors remained in the colorful procession of Lord Narasimha and there was no black and green in that too. Gradually its impression was spread in the whole city.
Shobhayatra got grand form from Gorakshpeeth
Nanaji’s efforts for a clean Holi paid off and the yatra became refined, but it was not possible to give it a grand appearance. In such a way, Nanaji contacted Mahant Digvijaynath, the then Peethadhishwar of Nath Peeth for this. Digvijaynath accepted his invitation and handed over this responsibility to his successor Avedyanath.
On the instructions of the Guru, Avedyanath started leading the procession from 1950. Gradually, this procession of the Sangh inevitably became associated with the Nath Peeth. When Yogi Adityanath was made his successor by Mahant Avedyanath, he was also entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the grandeur of this yatra.
Since 1998, when Yogi Adityanath started leading the yatra, due to his festive nature, the procession took a grand form and all the prominent people of the city started participating in it. After Yogi became the CM, this procession has become famous in the country and abroad.