Devotees Throng Temples As Navratri Begins, Long Queues Outside Shrines — Watch

The nine-day Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to worshipping Goddess Durga in her various incarnations, collectively known as Navdurga.

Devotees take part in Mangala Aarti at Ambaji temple on the first day of Chaitra in Gujarat.

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Temples across India witnessed a huge influx of devotees gathering to pay obeisance to Goddess Durga as Chaitra Navratri began on Sunday. Across various states, worshippers queued early in the morning to offer their prayers and seek divine blessings.

In Uttar Pradesh, thousands participated in the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi on the eve of Nav Samvatsar, praying for prosperity. Meanwhile, a significant crowd assembled at the Shri Rajrajeshwari Maa Kela Devi Temple in Firozabad for Mangala Darshan. 

#WATCH | Jammu & Kashmir | Devotees arriving at Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir on the first day of Chaitra #Navratri pic.twitter.com/SrlRGoxxx1

— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025

Similar scenes unfolded at prominent sites, including the Jhandewalan Temple and the Kalkaji Temple in Delhi, where long queues were evident. At the Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir, devotees dedicated the day to honour Maa Shailputri, while the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir also saw a large gathering.

Enhanced Security And Special Arrangements

Authorities have ensured strict security arrangements at major temples to guarantee the safety and comfort of all visitors. In Panchkula, Haryana, where the Mata Mansa Devi temple is located, organisers have set up a grand fair and deployed 837 police personnel. Special measures have been implemented to assist the elderly and differently-abled.

The nine-day Chaitra Navratri is dedicated to worshipping Goddess Durga in her various incarnations, collectively known as Navdurga. Each day celebrates a different form of the goddess, symbolising attributes of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees observe fasts, sing devotional songs, and engage in prayers with great fervour throughout the festival.

Chaitra Navratri, which means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, is one of the two widely celebrated Navratris in India—the other being Shardiya Navratri. The festivities will culminate in a live programme from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya on April 6, between 11:45 am and 12:15 pm, marking Ram Navami and bringing the divine celebrations into the homes of millions across the nation.