Lion Chair Made from Kedarnath Wood Gifted to Yogi Adityanath at Temple | India News

Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 15:56 IST

Crafted from wood left over from the Kedarnath reconstruction project, the chair has been installed in Gorakhnath Temple, where Adityanath serves as the Peethadhishwar

(Left) The Lion Chair and (right) Uttarakhand minister of state (independent charge) and retired army officer Colonel Ajay Kothiyal, a central figure in the Kedarnath rebuilding effort after the devastating 2013 floods, with Yogi Adityanath. (News18)

A grand chair, described as a ‘lion chair’ bearing the craftsmanship of the neighbouring state and chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s home state, Uttarakhand, has now become the Uttar Pradesh CM’s newest prized possession.

More than a piece of furniture, the chair has emerged as a symbol of faith, craftsmanship and cultural continuity between the Himalayas and the plains. Crafted from deodar wood left over from the Kedarnath reconstruction project, the ornate ‘lion chair’ has now been installed in the main assembly hall of Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, where Yogi Adityanath serves as the Peethadhishwar.

The chair was gifted on January 15, Makar Sankranti, by Uttarakhand minister of state (independent charge) and retired army officer Colonel Ajay Kothiyal, a central figure in the Kedarnath rebuilding effort after the devastating 2013 floods. Kothiyal said the gesture was just a present to Yogi Adityanath not as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, but as the spiritual head of Gorakhnath Peeth.

Colonel Kothiyal himself highlighted the emotional and cultural value of the chair through a series of posts on X. Sharing photographs and details of the handcrafted seat, he wrote that the chair was made from deodar wood used in the Kedarnath reconstruction and was prepared with the intention that “sacred wood should be used only for a sacred purpose”. He described it as a humble offering to a spiritual leader deeply connected with Uttarakhand and its traditions.

What makes the chair truly unique is its origin. Deodar wood, revered in Himalayan culture for its strength, fragrance and sanctity, has been an integral part of temple architecture in Uttarakhand for centuries. The wood used for the chair formed part of the massive Kedarnath reconstruction project, undertaken after the shrine and surrounding area were ravaged by floods. According to Kothiyal, the leftover wood could not be treated as ordinary material. “It carried the memory of Kedarnath,” he noted in his X post, explaining why he decided it should be transformed into something spiritually meaningful.

The design of the chair was prepared by architect Krishna Kudiyal, who studied the traditional architecture of Uttarakhand’s temples before finalising the structure. The influence is evident in the intricate carvings on the backrest, which mirror the wooden panels and motifs commonly found in Garhwal and Kumaon shrines. The detailing gives the chair a distinct Himalayan identity, setting it apart from conventional ceremonial seats.

Perhaps the most striking visual element of the chair is the pair of lion motifs carved on its armrests. In Indian tradition, the lion is a powerful symbol of strength, courage and authority. Those involved in the design say the motif was consciously chosen to reflect the idea of decisive leadership, while also resonating with the spiritual stature of the Gorakhnath Peeth. Colonel Kothiyal, in his social media post, referred to the lion imagery as a representation of ‘power and protection’.

The chair was handcrafted by a traditional wood artisan from Kota village near Chakrata, an area known for preserving Uttarakhand’s age-old woodcraft traditions. The artisan spent nearly 15 days shaping the chair, carving each detail by hand using traditional tools. No machine carving was used for the finer elements, ensuring the chair remained rooted in authentic craftsmanship of Uttarakhand.

Another carefully thought-out detail is the upholstery. The cushion is draped in saffron, or bhagwa, a colour closely associated with asceticism, spirituality and the Nath tradition. It is also known to be Yogi Adityanath’s preferred colour. Colonel Kothiyal noted on X that efforts were made to incorporate elements of the Mahasu Devta temple woodcraft tradition, lending the chair a deeper cultural context.

Beyond its visual appeal, the chair has a sensory presence. Deodar wood is known for its natural, soothing fragrance, and since the chair’s installation, a faint woody aroma has been noticed spreading through the temple hall. Temple functionaries say the fragrance subtly enhances the spiritual ambience, making the chair stand out even in a space steeped in ritual.

Yogi Adityanath is said to have examined the chair closely upon receiving it and appreciated both its craftsmanship and symbolism. He subsequently approved its placement in the main assembly hall of Gorakhnath Temple, where it now occupies a prominent position during religious and institutional gatherings.

The gift also carries personal resonance. Yogi Adityanath was born on June 5, 1972, in Panchur village of Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand. Though his spiritual journey took him to Gorakhpur at a young age, the chair symbolically reconnects him with his home state. In his X posts, Colonel Kothiyal referred to this connection, describing the chair as a bridge between Uttarakhand’s sacred mountains and Yogi Adityanath’s karmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh.

Colonel Kothiyal himself remains a prominent figure in Uttarakhand’s recent history. Widely seen as the face of the Kedarnath reconstruction, he later entered politics, contesting the 2022 assembly elections as the Aam Aadmi Party’s chief ministerial face before joining the BJP. He currently holds the post of minister of state in the Uttarakhand government.

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