Long queues at temples mark beginning of Chaitra Navratri in Allahabad

PRAYAGRAJ: Chanting Jai Mata Di and holding coconuts, bangles and red ‘chunri’ in their hands, thousands of devotees thronged various city temples on the first day of Chaitra Navratri, on Wednesday. The nine-day festival, marked by nine days of fasting and worshipping, is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms.
Long queues of devotees were seen outside famous temples of the Sangam City including some of the prominent Durga temples like Kalyani Devi temple, Alopibagh, Lalita Devi—which is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth. Smaller temples too witnessed heavy rush of devotees for the entire day. The idols of these temples were all decked up with colourful streamers and marigold flowers.
Interestingly, now that the Corona fear has vanished, devotees were seen coming to the temple without masks. However, despite the heavy rush, there were few elderly people and women who were spotted wearing the mask.
Meanwhile, restaurants and sweet shops across the city also did brisk business as during the festival Navratri thalis are very popular among denizens, whether they are fasting or not.
“I went to the Kalyani Devi temple with my family to get blessings from Mata rani and offered sweets, coconuts and a chunari”, said Amisha, a resident of Dariyabad. My daughter Swati, planted grains of barley in a ‘Kalash’ as part of the festival rituals and her family would worship throughout the nine days.
This custom is indicative of fertility and is known as Khetri. In these nine days, many men do not shave or cut scalp hair. The festival is also known for fasting and irrespective of age, devotees survive on fruits, curd, milk and dishes made of water chestnut flour and swang rice. Rock salt replaces the normal salt for those who are fasting.
Meanwhile, the day also marked the beginning of the Hindu New Year, also known as ‘Vikram Samvat’. The Hindu New year andNavratri celebrations were observed at Baghambari Mutt of the city with great enthusiasm, on Wednesday. The head of the Mutt, Mahant Balveer Giri performed the main puja and other religious rituals including special puja of Goddess Bageshwari.
The ‘Kalash’ was established amidst vedic mantras. The priests at the mutt will continue to perform religious rituals for the all nine days of the Navratri.
Meanwhile, in the evening, the temple of Bade Hanuman ji, located at Sangam, was decorated with flowers and frills on the occasion of the Hindu New Year and the first day of Chaitra Navaratra.
Maha aarti of Lord Hanuman was also done. After this, Sunderkand was recited at the temple premises. On the occasion a large number of devotees arrived at the temple and sought the blessings of the deities and performed puja.