Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday extended his greetings to the nation on the auspicious occasion of Navratri.
"My greetings to everyone as the auspicious Navratri commences," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.
Navaratri is a festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu deity Durga. The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights.
During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Devi are worshipped. The tenth day is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or "Dussehra". Navaratri is an important major festival and is celebrated all over India and Nepal. Diwali the festival of lights is celebrated twenty days after Dasera.
This year Navratri will be celebrated for 10 days. The festival will culminate on October 11 with Dussehra celebrations.
Meanwhile, Navratri celebrations began in Gujarat. The state government has organized vibrant Gujarat Navratri Mahotsav, a garba festival at GMDC Ground in Ahmedabad.
Thousands of devotees are reaching at the temples of Ashapura Mata at Mata na Madh in Kutch, Ambaji Mata temple in North Gujarat and Bahuchraji Mata Temple in Central Gujarat.
Garba and Dandiya groups have also been organized during this Navratri festival. Chief Minnister Vijay Rupani will inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Navratri Mahotsav at Ahmedabad this evening.
Navratri is known for its ancient, traditional and modern garba and dandiya in Gujarat hugely participated by young generation.
In Himachal Pradesh, the devotees in large number are reaching at historical temples since morning on the beginning of Ashwin or Sharad Navratras from today.
They are paying obeisance before various forms of Goddess Durga while special Puja and Havan Yagya have also begun in temples.
During the Navratras, thousands of devotees are expected to visit historical temples in the state.
Therefore, the district administrations, especially in three districts Kangra, Bilaspur and Una have made elaborate arrangements to facilitate devotees.
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BY M. DIVYA SRI
