The eight-day of the auspicious Navratri festival was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm and religious festivity on Sunday.
The temples of goddess Durga were tastefully decorated and large number of devotees thronged them through out the day.
After the Asthami (eight day) pooja in homes, the young girls were offered food and gifts by the women who observed a fast on the day.
“The little girls are in much demand and all of them are very busy as they have so many invitations. I have invited nine girls in my home; these nine represent nine forms of goddess Durga. The girl child is symbol of pure basic creative force of the universe,’’ said Aruna Sharma, a resident of Defence colony.
At lord Venkatesh Hall here the Vedic Dharm Sansthan, Art of living organised a two-day programme which ended on Sunday. The Asthami day started with Devi Pooja, Durgasaptshati path, Kanya Poojan and Poornahuti which transformed the conscientiousness to one of love and devotion.
A Dandiya utsav was held in evening in which large number of people participated. One of the participants of the celebrations, Rinki Negi said that these types of programmes bring us closer to our values.
Meanwhile, the Bengali community celebrated the day with traditional fervour. The various pooja pandals set up in different parts of the city were thronged by large number of people. The devotees performed traditional Bengali dance, recited songs and played traditional music in these pandals. The pandal of Bengali library area drew a big crowd in which the rich tradition of Bengal was in full display.
The General secretary of Durga puja committee junior club Premises, Ordnance Factory Estate, Raipur, Dehradun, Tapas Chakraborty said that thousand of people participated in the celebration. The committee is celebrating its 73 Durga Puja celebration this year.
“On Sunday the Maha Ashtami Puja was organised in the wee hours of morning, followed by pushpaanjali and bhog. This was followed by Sandhi Puja at 5.15 pm. The puja signifies the killing of the demon king Mahisasur, indicating victory of good over evil,’’ he said.