Navratri Kicks Off with Massive Pilgrimages to Vaishno Devi and Other Sacred Sites

When the first trumpet of Shardiya Navratri sounded on Sunday, a sea of devotees poured into temples from Kashmir to Kolkata, eager to greet the goddess and start the nine‑night celebration.

In the pilgrimage town of Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi was awash with a glow of fairy‑tale lights. Long queues snaked from the Darshani Deodi, where pilgrims prepare for the uphill trek, while chants rose with the sunrise.

“The shrine looks like a beacon today,” a first‑time visitor remarked, eyes glinting at the illuminated Trikuta hills. The ambience felt almost otherworldly, a blend of incense, flickering lamps and the distant murmur of prayer.

Not far away, in Billawar of Kathua district, the historic Sukrala Mata Temple was equally bustling. Fresh garlands, fragrant flowers and baskets of fruit draped the sanctum, and a contingent of CRPF, J&K Police and other forces kept the crowds orderly.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Vishwajit Singh explained the preparations: “We spruced up every corner, laid fresh carpets, and made sure the inner sanctum shines with flowers. Security is tight but friendly – we want devotees to feel safe while they seek Mata’s blessings.”

Recent upgrades have not gone unnoticed. Pilgrims praised a brand‑new two‑storey sarai that offers resting rooms, clean washrooms and paved pathways. “When we saw the sarai, our hearts lifted,” one pilgrim said, “It feels like a home away from home during our long journey.”

The head priest added that darshan doors opened at 4:00 AM, with round‑the‑clock services, including a special falahar (fasting food) kitchen for those observing the fast. “Our ADC has transformed the place in just three months – new gates, marble‑clad dharamshala, and a grand yajna on Ram Navami. The holy spring (baoli) is also being tended for the morning and evening ablutions,” he noted.

Beyond the northern hills, the devotional wave reached other corners of the country. In Assam, the Kamakhya Temple perched on Nilachal Hill welcomed throngs for early prayers. Haridwar’s Mansa Devi shrine saw families gather for the first day’s rituals, while Delhi’s Chhatarpur Temple and Kolkata’s Kali Bari buzzed with festive fervour.

Lucknow, however, faced a hiccup: rising Gomti waters forced authorities to temporarily bar entry at the Maa Chandrika Devi Temple for safety, though priests continued rites inside.

Shardiya Navratri, also known as Sharadiya Navratri, honors the divine feminine – Sri Maha Chandika, the embodiment of Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasaraswati. Each of the nine nights celebrates a different facet of the goddess, promising blessings of knowledge, prosperity and protection to those who pray.

As the festival rolls on, devotees will continue to line up, chant, dance Garba and Dandiya, and share communal meals, culminating on October 20 with Vijayadashami, the day when triumph over darkness is celebrated across India.