The nine-day-long Navratri Mahaparv fesitivity, considered the biggest celebration of the Hindu community, is gaining momentum as Sanskardhani entered the second day of the festival on Tuesday. With every passing hour, the spiritual fervour is intensifying, pandals are taking final shape and artisans are busy giving the finishing touches to the idols of Maa Durga that will soon adorn various localities. On the second day, a large number of idols of the Goddess were installed in different parts of the city, marking the beginning of community celebrations alongside temple rituals. As per estimates, over one thousand idols of Maa Durga will be set up this year, transforming the entire city into a vibrant centre of devotion and cultural splendour.

 

Devotees, who had thronged temples in huge numbers on the first day, continued their worship with equal zeal. From the early morning hours, men and women carrying sacred water vessels queued at major shrines like Maa Badi Khermai Temple, Maa Tripur Sundari, and Maa Gauri temples, offering jalabhishek and prayers at the feet of the Goddess. Special decorations, colourful lights, and devotional music have created a deeply spiritual atmosphere at Durga temples across the city. The Badi Khermai Temple and other major Durga temples have made elaborate arrangements for the comfort and safety of devotees.

 

With the cooperation of police, administration and volunteers, separate entry and exit routes have been set up to manage the heavy inflow of worshippers. Organisers are also preparing for cultural and religious programmes that will take place throughout the festival. Meanwhile, the daily rituals of shringar and pujan-archan of the Goddess continue with devotion. Each day, the deity will be adorned in a different form, while devotional hymns and bhajans will reverberate in temples and pandals. Women and young girls, considered symbolic of Shakti, are arriving in large numbers every morning to perform rituals, with arrangements made for their comfort. As Navratri moves ahead, Sanskardhani is gradually being enveloped in an atmosphere of unmatched faith, festivity and devotion, with the divine presence of Maa Durga.