NEW DELHI: Morning prayers took place at New Delhi’s Jhandewala Devi Temple on the eighth day of Shardiya Navratri. Devotees celebrated Maa Mahagauri, the eighth form of Goddess Durga.
The Navratri festival spans nine days, during which worshippers honor nine different forms of Maa Durga. Devotees observe fasts, chant shlokas, wear new clothes, offer bhog, and clean their homes to receive blessings.
The word “Navratri” means “nine nights” in Sanskrit and is devoted to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga.It is celebrated widely across India with various rituals and prayers.
Hindus observe four Navratris every year, but Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri are the most widely celebrated. These festivals align with the seasonal changes.
In North India, especially in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, the festival features Ramlila, a dramatic reenactment of scenes from the Ramayana.
Navratri concludes with Vijayadashami, marked by the burning of King Ravana’s effigies.
