Devotees Celebrate Spring Navratri

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Nation celebrates Navaratri festival

April 6th, 2008

 

Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 6 (ANI): The festival of

Navaratri is being celebrated across the country with

traditional gaiety and fervor.

 

A large number of devotees thronged temples across the

country on Sunday to offer prayers on the first day of the

nine-day festival of [spring] 'Navaratri'.

 

In Srinagar, Hindus took out a procession from the

Katleshwar temple to the temple of Mata Sharika Devi,

traversing a distance of 10 kilometers around the city.

The devotees celebrated their New Year or 'Navreh',

which falls on the first day of the Chaitra Navaratri

according to the Hindu calendar.

 

" It is a good thing that after about 20-22 years, we are

taking out this procession here and everybody is very

happy about it, " said Sanjay Kak, a devotee.

 

Meanwhile, scores of devotees thronged the famous

Jhandewalan temple in New Delhi to offer prayers and

seek blessings of the Goddess Durga.

 

Early morning rituals were performed to mark the

festival, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

Most of the Hindu devotees observe fasts during the

nine-day festival and consume only fruits and milk in

their meals, avoiding cereals.

 

Goddess Durga is worshipped throughout the country in

different forms.

 

Durga stands for " shakti " or power. She is depicted as

riding a raging lion, holding weapons in her ten hands.

Known as Vasantha Navaratri, it is celebrated during

Vasantha Ruthu, which means beginning of summer in

March or April. This Navaratri is mainly celebrated in

North India. Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu observes

Navaratri during this period.

 

from:

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-

news/nation-celebrates-navaratri-

festival_10035016.html

or

http://tinyurl.com/4uhmad

 

Devotees throng Vaishno Devi shrine on first day of

Navratri

April 6th, 2008

 

Srinagar, April (ANI): Hindus from across the nation

thronged Vaishno Devi shrine on the first day of the

nine-day 'Navratri' festival.

 

" Navratri " , dedicated to Hindu Goddess Durga is

celebrated twice in a year, during the spring and the

autumn season.

 

Devotees in large numbers from across the country came

to offer prayers to the much-revered goddess residing on

the tough height of 5300 feet to mark the beginning of

festival, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.

 

Security has been beefed up at the pilgrimage site to

ensure peaceful celebrations.

 

Lot of devotees will come here to worship Goddess

Durga. We have made arrangements for their safe and

secure visits. From police deployments, flying squads

have been posted at strategic places. At nights, barriers

have been placed at required places. Moreover patrolling

has been increased. Suspicious characters are being

thoroughly checked and we hope that people have calm

and peaceful Navartras, said K Rajendra, Inspector

General of Police, Jammu Zone.

 

Devotees who reached the shrine on the first day of the

festival said that they were content with the security

arrangements.

 

" We were able to worship goddess very peacefully. Lot

of faith can be seen here. Besides security and other

arrangements are also very much satisfactory, " said

Sunny, a devotee.

 

from:

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/devotees

-throng-vaishno-devi-shrine-on-first-day-of-

navratri_10035126.html

or

http://tinyurl.com/3etsuo