Thousands of Hindu devotees flocked to temples across Himachal Pradesh on Monday, kicking off the nine-day Shardiya Navratri festival. This auspicious period honors Goddess Durga and draws worshippers seeking blessings for health, prosperity, and joy.
Crowds surged at popular shrines like Naina Devi in Bilaspur, Chintpurni in Una, and Baba Balak Nath in Hamirpur. In Kangra district, sites such as Brajeshwari Devi, Jwalaji, and Chamunda Devi saw massive turnouts. Shimla’s Bhimakali and Hateshwari temples also buzzed with energy as families offered prayers on the first day, dedicated to Maa Shailputri.
Police ramped up security at these key spots, installing CCTV cameras to keep things safe amid the rush. “We’re handling everything smoothly,” a senior officer told .
Most visitors hailed from nearby Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. At the hilltop Naina Devi temple, officials expect 15,000 to 20,000 devotees each day. The festival wraps up with Dussehra celebrations on October 2, marking the triumph of good over evil.
To make Navratri more accessible, temples like Chintpurni, Baba Balak Nath in Deothsidh, and Shimla’s Jakhu now offer online darshan. Devotees can watch live prayers, make virtual offerings, and even explore temple history through photos and upcoming event details on their websites. “It’s like doing a full parikrama around the shrine from home,” said an official at Chintpurni.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu shared festive greetings on X (formerly Twitter): “May Maa Shailputri’s grace remove every crisis from your life and fill it with joy and light. Jai Mata Di.”
Shardiya Navratri is one of four annual celebrations—alongside Chaitra Navratri, Magha Gupt Navratri, and Ashadha Gupt Navratri. The Chaitra and Ashwina versions stand out as the most vibrant, often featuring Durga Puja rituals in various regions. This year’s events highlight a blend of tradition and tech, drawing global interest in Hindu festivals like Navratri 2023.
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