Navratri Begins with Worship of Maa Shailputri on the First Day
New Delhi: The festival of Sharadiya Navratri began on Thursday, with devotees performing rituals and worshipping Maa Shailputri on the first day of the nine-day-long celebration. Temples witnessed large crowds, especially women, offering prayers and water at the feet of the Goddess.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj visited the Jhandewalan Devi Temple on the first day to offer her prayers. Speaking on the occasion, she expressed her wish for everyone’s life to be filled with health, happiness, and prosperity, and for the nation to progress.
Devotees also flocked to the Vaishno Devi Cave Temple at Tapkeshwar and Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar to worship on this auspicious day. Similarly, in Guwahati, the Kamakhya Temple saw a large gathering of worshippers. Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya visited the Kamakhya Temple and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of the people of Assam. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to seek the blessings of the Goddess.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur also participated in the celebrations, offering prayers at the Shri Mansa Devi Temple. He extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion of Sharadiya Navratri, hoping for peace in the world amidst the current global crises and war-like situations.
As Navratri began, preparations for decorating Goddess pandals also commenced. Devotees started arriving early at famous temples in Jalaun, such as Badi Mata, Hulka Mata, Moni Baba Temple, and Singhvahini Temple in Konch, known for fulfilling the wishes of those who pray there. In Urai, the Moni Baba Temple also saw a large number of devotees seeking the blessings of Maa Sankata Devi.
Security arrangements have been strengthened around the temples to manage the heavy flow of devotees throughout the Navratri festival.