CM Yogi Offers Prayers at Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth on Navratri Day 1
Synopsis
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath marked the first day of Shardiya Navratri 2026 by offering prayers at the revered Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth in Tulsipur, Balrampur, praying for the welfare of all devotees and the people of UP.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath visited Adi Shakti Maa Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth in Tulsipur, Balrampur on 11 October 2026 .
The visit took place on the first day of Shardiya Navratri , one of the most significant Hindu festivals in Uttar Pradesh.
The Chief Minister offered prayers to Maa Bhagwati (Maa Durga) and sought her blessings for the people of the state.
Pateshwari Devi temple is a revered Shaktipeeth in the Purvanchal region of eastern Uttar Pradesh, near the Nepal border.
As head of the Gorakhnath Math , Yogi Adityanath's spiritual engagements are closely intertwined with his role as the state's chief minister.
On the auspicious first day of Shardiya Navratri 2026, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath travelled to the ancient Adi Shakti Maa Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth in Tulsipur, Balrampur district, to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Maa Bhagwati — opening the nine-day festival with a deeply personal act of devotion.
Posting on Sunday, 11 October 2026, the Chief Minister shared his reverence in Hindi: 'शक्ति की अधिष्ठात्री, जगज्जननी माँ दुर्गा की आराधना के पावन पर्व शारदीय नवरात्रि के प्रथम दिवस पर...' — 'On the holy first day of Shardiya Navratri, the sacred festival of worship of Maa Durga, the presiding deity of Shakti and mother of the universe, I received the great fortune of offering prayers at Adi Shakti Maa Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth in Tulsipur, Balrampur.' He closed with a prayer that Maa Durga's boundless grace continue to bless all devotees and the people of the state.Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth: A seat of ancient Shakti worship in eastern UP
The Pateshwari Devi temple in Tulsipur, located in Balrampur district in eastern Uttar Pradesh near the Nepal border, is one of the region's most revered Shaktipeeths — sites considered sacred in the Shakta tradition as seats of the goddess's divine energy. The temple draws tens of thousands of pilgrims during Navratri, when the nine forms of Maa Durga are worshipped across nine days. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's visit on the very first day underscores the site's religious significance and its deep roots in the devotional life of the Purvanchal region.
Navratri as a moment of public prayer for the state
Shardiya Navratri — the autumnal Navratri — is among the most widely observed Hindu festivals across Uttar Pradesh, bringing together millions of devotees in community worship, fasting, and cultural celebration. As head of the Gorakhnath Math, one of the most prominent Shaiva-Nath monastic traditions in northern India, Yogi Adityanath has long intertwined his spiritual role with his political office. His Navratri visit to a Shaktipeeth reflects the intersection of that dual identity — extending his prayers explicitly to the state's residents and urging Maa Durga's grace upon all of Uttar Pradesh's people.
With Navratri's nine days ahead, devotional fervour is set to build across the state — and the Chief Minister's pilgrimage to Balrampur signals that the season, for UP, has officially begun.
Point of View
The Chief Minister's visible devotional practice during major Hindu festivals serves as a signal of cultural continuity and connects the government's image to the state's deeply rooted religious traditions. Balrampur's selection — a border district in the politically significant Purvanchal belt — also carries geographic symbolism. The dual register of personal piety and public prayer for the state's people is a hallmark of Yogi Adityanath's political communication during festive seasons.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth located?
Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth is located in Tulsipur town in Balrampur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh, close to the India-Nepal border. It is one of the most important Shakta pilgrimage sites in the Purvanchal region.
Why did CM Yogi visit Pateshwari Devi temple on 11 October 2026?
CM Yogi Adityanath visited the Pateshwari Devi Shaktipeeth on 11 October 2026 to offer prayers on the first day of Shardiya Navratri, the autumnal nine-day festival dedicated to Maa Durga.
What is Shardiya Navratri?
Shardiya Navratri is the autumnal edition of Navratri, observed over nine days in the Hindu month of Ashwin. It is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Uttar Pradesh and across India, dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
What is CM Yogi's connection to religious institutions?
CM Yogi Adityanath is the head of the Gorakhnath Math in Gorakhpur, one of the most influential Shaiva-Nath monastic orders in northern India. This dual role as religious leader and chief minister defines much of his public persona.
What did CM Yogi pray for at Pateshwari Devi temple?
CM Yogi Adityanath prayed that the boundless grace of Maa Durga continue to bless all devotees and the people of Uttar Pradesh throughout the Navratri festival and beyond.
