CM moves into official residence in Navratras

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, March 29

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath moved into his official residence, 5 Kalidas Marg, at the auspicious hour of 12.40 pm on the first day of the Navratras today. After puja, during which a cow was also brought in, the CM invited his ministers to ‘fal-ahaar’ (non-cereal meal) at his new house.

Besides the CM, six of his Cabinet colleagues also performed puja at their new official residences.

Since Yogi assumed power on March 19, a team of 11 priests form Gorakhpur and Allahabad had been holding an elaborate puja to ‘purify’ the bungalow for today’s ‘Grih Pravesh’.

Reacting to the “shuddhi,” of the house vacated by him, former CM Akhilesh Yadav had sardonically remarked that he would engage the Fire Brigade to get “Ganga jal” to purify the bungalow, if he occupied the house again.

In the tastefully done up bungalow, the cream curtains have been replaced by pale saffron. All leather-upholstered furniture has been replaced with wooden furniture and a modest wooden bed, known as takhat in the local parlance, brought in.

Since his swearing-in, Yogi has been staying at the VVIP Guest House. Sources close to him say the CM religiously observes the nine-day fast during which he takes only buttermilk and fruit.