The Chaitra Navratri festival commenced on Sunday with a grand morning aarti at the iconic Jhandewalan Temple, where devotees worshipped Goddess Durga in her Shailputri form on the first day of the festival.
Neetu, a devotee who attended the morning aarti, shared her experience, stating, “We came here at 4 am for the aarti and had a very good ‘Darshan’. May Goddess bless all.”
Temple priest Ambika Prasad Pant explained the significance of the day, saying, “Today is the first day of Chaitra Navratri. Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Shailputri, as she is believed to be the daughter of the Himalayas.”
Jhandewalan Temple Trustee Ravindra Goel extended his wishes for Navratri and the Hindu New Year, assuring that necessary arrangements had been made to provide a seamless darshan experience for devotees. “Greetings to everyone on the occasion of Navratri and the Hindu New Year. Large numbers of devotees visit the temple during Navratri, and we have made all necessary arrangements for a pleasant darshan experience,” he said.
Navratri, which means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine incarnations, collectively known as Navdurga. Among the four Navratris observed annually, Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri are the most widely celebrated, coinciding with seasonal transitions.
The festival, also known as Ram Navratri, concludes with the celebration of Ram Navami, marking the birth of Lord Ram. Throughout the nine days, devotees honor the different incarnations of Goddess Shakti with prayers, fasting, and cultural celebrations.
Adding to the spiritual ambiance, Akashvani’s Aradhana YouTube Channel will present a series of special programs from March 30 to April 6. “To commemorate each day’s significance, the channel will feature a specially curated series from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Additionally, Shakti Aradhana will be broadcast daily from 8:30 AM to 8:40 AM, bringing divine renditions to the audience,” stated a release by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
A key highlight of the celebrations includes Navratri Bhajans by renowned artists such as Anup Jalota, Narinder Chanchal, Jagjit Singh, Hari Om Sharan, Mahendra Kapoor, and Anuradha Paudwal, which will be aired daily from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Another special feature, “Devi Maa Ke Anek Swaroop,” a unique series narrating inspiring stories on Navratri, will be broadcast daily from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Additionally, the channel will present insights into various Shakti Peeths across the country, highlighting their historical and spiritual significance.
The Navratri celebrations will conclude with a grand live program on Ram Janmotsav, broadcast directly from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya. This special event will take place on April 6 from 11:45 AM to 12:15 PM, allowing devotees across the nation to partake in the festivities from their homes.
