With the starting of the first of the Navratri, the holy city of Haridwar is wearing a festive look. A day ago, thorough cleaning of temples was done and red coloured frills and stoles marked the entrance of temples in the city. Though the period of Amavasya ended on Saturday afternoon, the mangal kalash (sacred pot) was established by devotees in their homes on Sunday morning. The fasting of nine days would conclude after Ashtami and Navmi dates (as per lunar calendar)

The shops in the holy city are bedecked and vendors selling prasad and puja articles are seen dotting on the major Devi temple roads. In goddess temples like Mansa Devi and Chandi devi, devotees were seen queuing up to tie the wishful holy thread. Mantra recitations to please the goddess for prosperity filled the air and people thronged at Har Ki Paidi for holy dip in the Ganga.

Speaking to this correspondent, astrologer Prateek Mishrapuri said, “Since Amavasya ended on Saturday afternoon, the first Navratri would be considered from Sunday and fasting begins from the same day onward while Ashtami shall be celebrated on October 7 and Durga Visarjan on Dashmi on October 8.”

One of the devotees from BHEL, Debashish Chatterjee said, “We cleaned our home altar and established a chowki (wooden platform). Barley seeds are sown in a bowl with earth and water and each day the sprouts grow.” Explaining the reason why these seeds are grown Prateek Mishrapuri says, “It is believed that the creation in the world began with the first crop of barley seeds. Also the growth of barley seedlings indicates the prosperity in the house. The more

 they flourish, the more it symbolises the growth of wealth and prosperity.”

“Nine days of Navratri are devoted to the goddess (shakti) without whose power, even Shiva is like a shav (corpse). These goddesses represent 10 mahavidyas. Adi Shankaracharya advocated performing of yajna for Raj Rajeshwari Tripur Sundari to get eternal bliss and prosperity,” said Brahmchari Kailashanand of Kali temple near Chandi Ghat. The nine-day festival of Navratri in Hindu religion is dedicated to the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga which are Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.