Heavy rush seen at decked-up city temples on first day of Navratri

Prayagraj: Chanting ‘Jai Mata di’, holding coconuts, bangles and red ‘chunris’ in their hands, thousands of devotees thronged various temples in the city on the first day of Chaitra Navratri, on Saturday. 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 prominent Durga temples like Kalyani Devi temple, Alopi Devi temple of Alopibagh, Lalita Devi of Meerapur (one of the 51 Sakhti Peeths), many smaller temples too witnessed heavy rush of devotees for the entire day.The idols of the goddess in these temples were decked up with colourful streamers and marigold flowers.
However, most of the devotees were seen visiting temples without masks. Despite the heavy rush, only a few elderly and women were spotted wearing masks as for the rest, little did anyone care to take any precaution.
Meanwhile, restaurants and sweet shops across the city also did brisk business during the festival as Navratri thalis are very popular among denizens, fasting or not.
“A Navratri thali usually consists of kuttu ki roti/puri, fried potatoes, swang ke chawal, saboodana ki tikki or khichdi, kheer, saboodana papad and pakodas,” said Nalni, a 42-year old foodie who eagerly awaits the festival to gorge on the festival special food.
“I went to the Kalyani Devi temple with my family to get blessings from Mata rani and offered sweets, coconuts and a chunri,” said Amisha, a resident of Dariyabad.
She added, “My daughter Kiran planted grains of barley in a pot as part of the festival rituals and her family would worship the pot 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.