Thousands of devotees thronged temples across India on Sunday, 11 October, marking the first day of Shardiya Navratri with prayers, fasting, and elaborate rituals dedicated to Goddess Durga. From Jammu and Kashmir to Karnataka, long queues formed at major shrines well before dawn, reflecting the festival's deep pan-Indian resonance.

Vaishno Devi and North India

At the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, heavy crowds gathered at RFID card counters as pilgrims collected their passes before beginning their ascent to seek the goddess's blessings. In Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, devotees assembled at the Maa Shailputri Temple in Alaipura. One worshipper said, 'It's the first day of Shardiya Navratri, and we keep fasts throughout the entire period. We perform rituals, worship with complete devotion, and have come here for darshan. The crowd is massive, even more than usual.'

Prayagraj: Shaktipeeth and Holy Ganga

In Prayagraj, devotees visited the Alop Shankari Shaktipeeth Temple, one of the most revered Shakti shrines in the country. Mansukh Maharaj, chief priest of the temple, explained the site's significance: 'Here, the right ring finger of Mata Sati fell, and it became invisible. Therefore, it is renowned by the names Alopi Mata and Shaktipeeth Mahadeshwari.' Long queues had formed since morning, with arrangements in place for the large influx. Devotees also took a holy dip in the Ganga at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Daraganj and offered prayers to Maa Shailputri. Pramod Tiwari, a purohit in Prayagraj, noted that many worshippers were collecting Ganga water and soil for home worship, following the conclusion of Pitru Paksha.

Gujarat: The 400-Year-Old Temple of Maa Amba

In Surat, Gujarat, thousands visited the 400-year-old Juna Ambaji Temple in the historic Gopipura area for the morning Mangala Aarti. Jitendra Bharti Goswami, the temple's priest, recounted its storied past: 'This temple is very old, it is about 400 years old. Even Shivaji had visited this temple. Back then, whenever Shivaji set out on a military campaign, he would first come here for darshan, and then go ahead with his campaigns... Mahatma Gandhi also came here for darshan.' He noted that devotees had been arriving since 3 a.m. to seek blessings.

Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Central India

In Mumbai, Maharashtra, large crowds gathered at the Shri Mumba Devi Temple, while worshippers in Haridwar, Uttarakhand assembled at the Maa Mansa Devi Temple. In Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, devotees attended morning aartis at the Maa Chamunda and Maa Tulja Bhavani temples. Harshal, priest at the Badi Mata Temple, said, 'Every person and devotee desires to have darshan of Maa on the very first day. Having darshan on the first day is considered a new beginning in one's life.'

Karnataka and the Festival's Significance

In Vijayapura, Karnataka, a grand candlelit procession of hundreds of devotees made its way to the Laxmi Temple, marking the start of Navratri celebrations. Shardiya Navratri begins on the first day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin and is observed across nine nights with devotion, fasting, and cultural festivities. The festival culminates with Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, which symbolises the victory of good over evil. This year's observance comes immediately after the conclusion of Pitru Paksha, adding to its spiritual weight for many devotees.