Nine-day long Navratri festivity began in the holy city on Tuesday. Kalash has been set up to be kept this way for nine days in almost every Hindu household. Thousands took holy dip in Ganga on Tuesday morning by way of cleansing themselves to rightly consecrate for the upcoming string of religious festivities. With it begins the month-long season of festivals that culminates in Diwali. Houses are being given fresh coats of painting to welcome the festivals. Markets are over-brimming with several kinds of decors, sweets, electrical goods and more.
After the process of bathing in Ganga was over, the devotees performed the initial prayer in the main temples consecrated to Goddess Durga and her many forms like Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi and Shail Putri Devi. long queues were observed outside the temples since the time the day dawned. Temples were decorated in tune with the auspiciousness of the occasion. Pitra Paksh (period designated ended on Monday, ushering in the advent of Matri Paksh, celebrated as Navratri.
Kalash set up on the maiden day of Navratri will be removed only on the ninth day that is the final day of the Navratri festivities. For all the nine days, the devotees would consume vegetarian and frugal food. However, many of them have taken to fasting and it would continue till the ninth and the final day of the religious festivities. With Navratri begins the month-long season of festivals with Dusshera, Dhan Teras and Diwali coming one after another. Ramleelas, depicting myriad phases of the deified life of lord Rama, would be enacted in the nights to glorify the hoary traditions of the country, continuing since millennia. Festive season on, demands of coconut, turban, incense sticks and the like — parts of the puja paraphernalia — are high.
Houses, shops, hotels and temples have been white- washed. The multi-storied buildings are also being given fresh coats of paint. Shops and markets are sparkling with garments, toys, decors, electrical goods and many others. Bumper discounts have been announced to shore up the volume of sales of their products by several companies.
“We are exulted with the festive spirit gripping all on the maiden day of the Navratra festivities. What is reassuring is the fact that even the new generation is enjoying the festivities in full. This signifies that our tradition would never die,” said a beaming Kamala, a housewife who was found offering prayer at a well-known temple located along the ghats in Haridwar.