On the first day of Shardiya Navratri, devotees in large numbers gathered at the historic Devkali Temple in Ayodhya on Monday morning to seek the blessings of Goddess Durga.
The nine-day festival, dedicated to worshipping the divine feminine energy in her nine forms, saw similar crowds at prominent temples across the country. In Delhi, large gatherings were witnessed at Kalkaji Temple and Jhandewalan Temple, while in Chhatarpur, devotees thronged the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir. Mumbai’s famous Mumbadevi Temple marked the day with the sacred Kakad Aarti, signalling the start of the festivities.
During Sharadiya Navratri, Goddess Kanakadurga is adorned as Sri Maha Chandika Devi, symbolising the combined powers of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, and Mahasaraswati. Worship of Maha Chandika is believed to bring prosperity, knowledge, and protection, as she is revered for destroying evil and safeguarding righteousness.
The festival, observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, is celebrated with great fervour through fasting, devotional singing, and traditional dances such as Garba and Dandiya. Each of the nine days is dedicated to a specific form of Goddess Durga, embodying different qualities of strength, compassion, and wisdom.
The seventh day, in particular, holds special significance as devotees worship Maa Kaalratri, the fierce form of Durga, who is believed to destroy demons, evil spirits, and negative energies, bringing light and courage into the lives of worshippers.
