Devotee with the idol of Maa Durga (Mumbai)
The festival of Navratri is being celebrated with great pomp across the country. Devotees from Delhi to Mumbai and Jalandhar, Kolkata reached pandals and had darshan of Maa Durga on the first day of Navratri. A large number of devotees participated in the traditional aarti at Jhandewalan Mata Temple in Delhi on the first day of Shardiya Navratri. The nine-day festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga is celebrated with great devotion across India. Various forms of the Goddess are worshiped in this festival.
Ahead of Navratri, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami greeted people. He stressed the importance of Navratri in worshiping and honoring the divine feminine. “Navratri has special significance as we worship different forms of Maa Durga. This festival symbolizes the power of women and is a reflection of our culture and traditions,” he said in a statement.
Durga Puja celebrations inaugurated in Jodhpur Park
In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated Durga Puja celebrations at Jodhpur Park on Wednesday. In his address, he highlighted the importance of unity and inclusivity while wishing everyone well during the festivities. He said, “I hope Maa Durga keeps everyone healthy. We respect all religions, castes and languages. The administration is with you, so it is also important that you support us during the puja.”
The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Durga Puja is performed during Navratri in the eastern and northeastern regions of India. This festival is celebrated to celebrate the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. In the southern states, the festival honors the victory of Durga or Kali, while in Gujarat, Navratri is celebrated with aarti followed by the traditional Garba dance. Throughout India, the Navratri festival involves worshiping nine forms of the goddess for nine days, including stage decoration, recitation and chanting of scriptures.
Cultural program related to harvest season
The festival is also a cultural event associated with the harvest season, including pandal competitions, family visits to these establishments, and public performances of classical and folk dances. The final day, Vijayadashami, marks the victory of good over evil. Idols of Goddess Durga are immersed in water bodies, or effigies of demons are burnt with fireworks, symbolizing the destruction of evil. The festival also sets the stage for the upcoming Diwali celebrations, which falls 20 days after Vijayadashami. (Input-ANI)
