Devotees Gather at Temples Nationwide to Kick off Navratri Celebrations

New Delhi, March 30 (NationPress) As the celebration of Chaitra Navaratri commenced, temples across India experienced an influx of devotees uniting to honor the initial day of this nine-day festival devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga.

Devotees formed long lines to present their prayers to Maa Durga on this significant first day of Navratri.

On the eve of Nav Samvatsar, numerous devotees took part in Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, praying for prosperity.

A sizable crowd gathered at Shri Rajrajeshwari Maa Kela Devi Temple in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, as devotees arrived for Mangala Darshan.

Special havan and aartis are scheduled over the nine days, with stringent security measures in place to ensure the safety and comfort of the attendees.

On this first day, a multitude of devotees visited the Jhandewalan Temple in Delhi to seek blessings and offer prayers.

A large number of pilgrims flocked to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, to commemorate the start of Chaitra Navratri.

At the Chhatarpur Temple in Delhi, a significant assembly of devotees came together for darshan.

Long queues were evident at the Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir, where the day is dedicated to the worship of Maa Shailputri.

Priest Pandit Kuldeep in Jhajjar, Haryana, remarked, "Today marks the kickoff of Navratri... a tremendous number of devotees have arrived. Many had gathered for Mata's Mangala Aarti, and the atmosphere is filled with spiritual fervor and devotion."

A devotee at the Chhatarpur Temple shared, "On this inaugural day of Navratri, I pray to Mata Rani and God to fulfill everyone’s wishes, bring prosperity to our homes, and bless our children with wisdom..."

The Kalkaji Temple also saw a significant turnout of devotees waiting in long lines for darshan.

Devotees gathered at the Mata Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula, Haryana, on the first day of Chaitra Navratri.

A grand fair has been organized, with Panchkula Police deploying 837 personnel at the temple.

Special provisions were made for the elderly and differently-abled, and dry fruits were included in the prasad distribution.

The nine-day-long Chaitra Navratri festival began on Sunday, March 30, with morning aarti performed at temples throughout the national capital.

On this first day, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Mata Shailputri.

The Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir witnessed a great number of attendees offering prayers and seeking blessings from Goddess Durga.

A significant number of devotees reached the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple on the first day of Chaitra Navratri to receive the Goddess's blessings.

Navratri, which translates to 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, is focused on the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine forms, collectively referred to as Navdurga.

Hindus observe four Navratris each year, but only two—Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri—are widely recognized as they align with the seasonal changes.

In India, Navratri is celebrated in diverse forms and traditions.

This nine-day festival, also known as Ram Navratri, concludes on Ram Navami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Ram.

Throughout the festival, all nine days are dedicated to honoring the nine incarnations of Goddess 'Shakti'.

The festival is observed with immense devotion throughout India, with rituals and prayers paying homage to the goddess in her various forms.

Each day highlights a different aspect of the goddess, encapsulating notions of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees partake in fasting, sing devotional songs, and create a festive environment.

The Navratri festivities will culminate in a grand live program on Ram Janmotsav, streamed directly from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya.

This special broadcast is scheduled for April 6 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., sharing the divine celebrations with audiences nationwide.