Navratri Festivities Illuminate India: A Celebration of Devotion and Tradition

Jhandewala Devi Temple in Delhi witnessed the traditional morning aarti on the seventh day of Shardiya Navaratri, with devotees honoring Mata Kaalratri. The nine-day Navratri festival is a period of devotion, fasting, and rituals dedicated to Goddess Durga, celebrated across India with diverse cultural practices.

The Jhandewala Devi Temple in New Delhi saw devotees gather for the morning aarti on the seventh day of the Shardiya Navaratri, honoring Mata Kaalratri. This annual festival is marked by the worship of the goddess's nine incarnations and is a time of intense devotion across India.

During Navratri, which translates to 'nine nights,' people participate in various spiritual activities such as fasting, chanting shlokas, wearing new clothes, and offering traditional foods, known as bhog. The festival signifies the adoration of Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, also referred to as Navdurga, with each form venerated on a different day.

Although four Navratris occur annually, Chaitra and Shardiya Navratri hold the most significance due to their alignment with seasonal changes. Across India, the festival is celebrated in distinctive regional styles. In the northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, traditional Ramlila performances narrate scenes from the Ramayana and the event concludes with Vijayadashami, highlighted by the symbolic burning of King Ravana's effigies. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)