From Vaishno Devi to Kamakhya, Devotees Throng Temples Across India as Navratri Begins

Thousands of devotees thronged temples across the country on Sunday, the first day of the nine-day Shardiya Navratri festival, offering prayers and seeking the blessings of Goddess Durga from the early hours of the morning.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on X. “Heartiest greetings to all fellow citizens on the great festival of Navratri dedicated to the practice of divine power,” he wrote. “May the grace of Mother Jagadamba bring happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health to everyone’s life, strengthening the resolve for national unity and progress.”

KATRA AND BILLAWAR

In Jammu and Kashmir, the pilgrimage town of Katra wore a festive look as pilgrims poured into the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Long queues formed at Darshani Deodi, the starting point of the uphill trek, and the Bhawan was lit up amid the Trikuta Hills.

A similar rush was seen at the Sukrala Mata temple in Billawar, Kathua district, which was decorated with fresh flowers and fruits. Additional Deputy Commissioner Vishwajit Singh said the inner sanctum had been beautified and security was in place, with the CRPF, J&K Police and other agencies deployed. “There are no concerns at all,” he said.

Pilgrims praised the improvements, including a newly built two-storey sarai and paved pathways. “What has been achieved in the last four months was never seen earlier,” one devotee told ANI.

The shrine’s head priest said doors opened for darshan at 4 am and that special falahar food and round-the-clock facilities had been arranged for the nine days. A grand yajna will be held on Ram Navami, and pilgrims come from Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and abroad, he said.

SECURITY ACROSS J&K

DIG Sargun Shukla of the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban range said “very robust security arrangements” are in place, with deployment plans issued at the district level. She asked devotees to maintain law and order and follow queue management. “We appeal to people to respect and be mindful of the faith of others alongside their own,” she said.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY

In Assam, devotees gathered for early morning rituals at the Kamakhya Temple on Guwahati’s Nilachal Hills. In Haridwar, they thronged the Mansa Devi temple.

In Delhi, devotees offered prayers at the Chhatarpur Temple and Kali Bari. At the Jhandewalan Temple, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj witnessed the Shringar Aarti, and said she hoped the Divine Mother’s blessings would remain upon everyone and the nation.

In Kolkata, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari attended a celebration at Eden Gardens on Mahalaya to mark the beginning of the Durga Puja festivities, with a drone show, 3D projection mapping, laser-and-light displays and ceremonial fireworks.

LUCKNOW TEMPLE CLOSED TO DEVOTEES

In Lucknow, entry to the Maa Chandrika Devi Temple was barred as a safety precaution because rising water in the Gomti River had caused waterlogging. Priests performed the daily rituals inside the sanctum, and worship continued without devotees.

Shardiya Navratri is a nine-night festival honouring the divine feminine in the form of Goddess Durga, observed in the lunar month of Ashwin.

Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, and devotees fast, sing devotional songs and take part in dances such as Garba and Dandiya.

The first day is for Shailputri. The festival runs from October 11 to 19, and Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, falls on October 20.

With inputs from ANI