On the auspicious occasion of Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of Chaitra Navratri, morning Aarti was performed with great devotion at Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir in Chhatarpur and Jhandewalan Temple in New Delhi. Devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and seek blessings from Goddess Mahagauri.
Pilgrims from across the country, including states like Gujarat, visited the capital’s revered temples to mark the spiritually significant day. One devotee shared, “I have come from Gujarat and this is my first time offering prayers at the temple.” Another said, “I have been visiting the temple for a long time and always feel blessed. Today, on Maha Ashtami, I pray for continued blessings for my family.”
Maha Ashtami is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of Durga, symbolizing purity, calmness, and serenity. According to Hindu mythology, Mahagauri gained her radiant form after deep penance and is depicted riding a white ox.
Chaitra Navratri, also known as Ram Navratri, is one of the two major Navratris celebrated across India, the other being Shardiya Navratri. The nine-day festival honors the nine divine forms of Goddess Durga and concludes with Ram Navami, the birth anniversary of Lord Ram.
Temples across India are adorned with lights and flowers during this period, with devotees participating in rituals, fasting, and Aartis to celebrate the divine feminine energy in its many forms.
