- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: As the Chaitra Navaratri festival commenced, temples throughout India saw a significant influx of devotees united in celebration of the first day dedicated to worshiping Goddess Durga.
Long queues formed as devotees stood patiently to offer their prayers to Maa Durga. On the eve of Nav Samvatsar, many took part in the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, seeking blessings for prosperity.
A massive crowd assembled at the Shri Rajrajeshwari Maa Kela Devi Temple in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, where devotees came for Mangala Darshan. Throughout the nine days, special havans and aartis are scheduled, with robust security measures in place to ensure the safety and convenience of attendees.
In Delhi, a substantial number of devotees flocked to the Jhandewalan Temple, expressing their wishes for blessings, while pilgrims also visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, to honor the first day of Chaitra Navratri.
At the Chhatarpur Temple in Delhi, devotees filled the premises for darshan, with long lines observed at the Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir. The first day of Navratri honors Maa Shailputri.
Pandit Kuldeep, a priest in Jhajjar, Haryana, remarked, “Today marks the first day of Navratri, and a large crowd of devotees has gathered. Many arrived early for Mata’s Mangala Aarti, creating an atmosphere rich with spiritual zeal and devotion.”
One devotee at Chhatarpur Temple shared their prayers for prosperity and wisdom as they celebrated the auspicious occasion.
The Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula, Haryana, also drew large crowds, with a grand fair organized nearby. The Panchkula Police deployed 837 personnel to ensure safety and smooth proceedings. Special provisions were made for the elderly and differently-abled, and dry fruits were added to the prasad distribution.
The nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival commenced on March 30, with morning aartis held in temples across the national capital. Day one is dedicated to worshiping Goddess Durga in her form as Mata Shailputri.
Devotees also gathered in large numbers at the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple seeking the goddess’s blessings.
Navratri, which translates to ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, focuses on the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known collectively as Navdurga. Hindus celebrate four Navratris annually, but only Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri are widely observed as they align with seasonal changes.
Celebrated with diverse customs and traditions, the nine-day festival, also referred to as Ram Navratri, culminates on Ram Navami, marking Lord Ram’s birthday. Each day of the festival is devoted to honoring the various incarnations of Goddess Shakti, emphasizing themes of strength, compassion, and wisdom.
During this time, devotees participate in fasting, sing devotional songs, and foster a joyful ambiance. The Navratri festivities will culminate in a special live broadcast for Ram Janmotsav from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, scheduled for April 6 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., bringing the divine celebrations to audiences nationwide.
