New Delhi: The auspicious nine-day 'Navratri' festival dedicated to the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga has begun from today.
Since early morning, devotees flocked to temples to offer prayers to Shailputri (Daughter of Mountain). Goddess Shailputri is the first among the nine forms of Durga. Goddess Durga is worshipped under nine different names for the nine days. Every day, she assumes a new character. The Goddess is worshipped as Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.
During these nine-day, temples are packed with devotees from wee hours in the morning and all day long.
The festival is celebrated with immense zeal and enthusiasm all over the country.
The word ‘Navratri' literally means ‘nine nights'. The nine-day festival symbolises the triumph of good over evil. This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.
This year, the ‘Navratri' festival will be celebrated from September 25 to October 3. The festival falls in lunar month Ashwin during Sharad Ritu. ‘Ashwin' is the seventh month of the lunisolar Hindu calendar.
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