The idols of goddesses Nanda and Sunanda were ritually installed on the occasion of Ashtami on Saturday as part of the 121st Nanda Devi Mahotsav being organised by Sri Ram Sevak Sabha in Nainital. Multitudes offered their prayers till late in the night to the goddesses placed at the Naina Devi temple. Earlier, the chief priest Pandit Bhagwati Prasad Joshi led the main worship. The idols of the goddesses were then opened for the devotees to pay their obeisance to. The devotees had started queing at the shrine since the wee hours. The Shri Ram Sevak Sabha head Manoj Sah, general secretary Jagdish Chandra Bawadi and former head Mukesh Joshi and others were also present on the occasion. After various events held throughout the day, the Panch Arti of the goddesses was organised late in the evening. The Panch Arti is done using fire, water, air, cloth and a flower. The local MLA Sarita Arya also attended the Panch Arti.
