The auspicious Navratri festival commenced this week at the sacred Mahabali Sankatmochan Shri Hanuman Mandir in Haibowal Kalan, Shankaracharya Nagar, with full traditional rituals and great enthusiasm.

The temple priests lit 108 sacred lamps while chanting mantras and performed worship of Maa Bhagwati’s first divine form, Goddess Shailputri. This marked the beginning of the nine-day celebration dedicated to the different manifestations of Goddess Durga.

On the first day, devotees gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and seek blessings. Families participated in the rituals, expressing their devotion with deep faith. The ceremony included aarti of Maa Durga and special offerings made to Shailputri, who is worshipped as the daughter of the Himalayas, seated on a bull, holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left.

Temple representatives explained the significance of Navratri, noting that it is observed four times a year, with Chaitra (spring) and Ashwin (autumn) Navratras holding special importance in Hindu tradition. They emphasized that each festival celebrated at the temple is guided by devotion and aims to promote the values of Sanatan Dharma among the community.

Prior to the rituals, devotees and committee members also paid homage at the revered shrine of Maa Chintpurni, seeking her blessings for peace and well-being. They expressed that Maa Chintpurni is believed to remove the worries of her devotees and shower them with divine grace.

The temple management shared that throughout the Navratri, daily worship will continue with special prayers dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga, culminating in a grand celebration on the final day.