Fasting devout offer prayers at temples to welcome Navratri

Lucknow: The first day of Chaitra Navratri witnessed rituals and festivity across the city on Thursday. Many observed fasts and offered prayers at their homes and temples. Long queues were seen at several shrines.A fair was organised at Badi Kaliji temple, where five priests recited Durga Saptshati path. Devotee Nishikant Sharma said he prayed for health of his family and for his newly started business venture, while Shubhendu Verma, carrying a thali with flowers, coconut and laddoos, said he had observed fast and prayed for his mother's speedy recovery from tuberculosis.At Sandohan Devi temple, ‘kalash sthapna' ritual was performed and devotees were served prasad of fruits and dry fruits, said Anoop Verma, secretary of the temple. Visitors waited patiently for darshan in long queues outside the temple. Sneha Charan said she prayed for success in her board exam and her ailing father's health.At Kali Bari temple in Ghasiyari Mandi, goddess Shailputri, the first form of goddess Durga, was worshipped. The idol was draped in a silk saree and devotees were offered ‘lauki ka halwa' as prasad. Anandita Basu said she had observed a fast and prepared ‘phalahaar' dishes such as kuttu puri, aloo sabzi and sabudana kheer.