Lakhs throng temples as Chaitra Navratri begins in Kashi, Mirzapur

Varanasi: Lakhs of devotees offered prayers at temples of Goddess Durga in Vindhyachal in Mirzapur and Varanasi on the inaugural day of Chaitra Navratri, which was also celebrated as Nav Samvatsar (Hindu calendar's new year) on Sunday. While Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh held Path Sanchalan, its frontal wings and other organisations held different events to mark the celebration.
Ahead of the opening of the doors of the sanctum sanctorum of Vindhyachal temple with the performing of Mangala Aarti in the early hours on Sunday, thousands of devotees joined the queues spread in the vicinity of Vindhya corridor. The streets of Vindhya Dham echoed with chants of the goddess while devotees could also be seen reaching Ashtabhuja and Kali Khoh temples in large numbers.
In view of the massive crowding, Mirzapur district magistrate Priyanka Nirajan camped in the shrine area with a large band of officials to monitor crowd regulation and other arrangements. She said as per guidelines issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his recent visit, all necessary arrangements for devotees, including drinking water, toilets, health, and other facilities, are being ensured. The 9-day Vindhya Mahotsava commenced in the evening.
Celebrations of Chaitra Navratri also started in Varanasi. As per tradition of offering prayer to Goddess Shailputri on the first day of Navratri, thousands of devotees thronged and long queues were evident at Durgakund and all other temples of the deity.
At Kashi Vishwanath temple, Gangajal (water of the holy Ganga) was sent in nine urns from the temple of Goddess Vishalakshi to perform the rituals of Jalabhishek of Lord Vishwanath. After completion of these rituals, the recital of Durga Shapsati started.
While temples were abuzz with devotees' footfall and performing of different rituals, grand celebrations started at the ghats along the river Ganga with the sunrise. Gangotri Seva Samiti and Namami Gange performed Ganga Aarti in the morning while Dugdhabhishek was offered to the sun god. A large band of priests also performed yajna on the banks of the eternal river for the welfare of humanity, peace and environmental conservation.
To celebrate the Hindu calendar's New Year as also birth anniversary of its founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the RSS hosted a traditional path sanchalan (parade) in which volunteers saluted their founder in uniform before marching ahead from Sampurnanand Sanskrit University campus.
Addressing a function hosted by Sanskar Bharti at Shivala Ghat, RSS functionary Virendra Jaiswal extended greetings for the Indian New Year 2082 to everyone. Batuks (child students of Vedic and Sanskrit schools) performed Mangala Charan and other cultural programmes. Participants also offered ‘arghya' to the rising sun.
Activists of voluntary organisation Ganga Samagra performed various rituals to the river Ganga at Assi and Shooltankeshwar Ghats after offering Arghya to the rising sun god, praying for welfare of people and spreading the message of the uninterrupted flow in a pollution-free Ganga. Co-provincial coordinator of Ganga Samagra, Divakar Dwivedi, said flow of water in Ganga and its tributaries had decreased compared to last year while the number of devotees bathing in Ganga increased, which is a matter of concern and it was our duty to come forward and inspire people in the community to prevent river pollution and conserve water.