Prayagraj, October 11 (Daily Kiran) : The Sharadiya Navratri festival begins this Sunday, drawing immense enthusiasm from devotees across the region. For the next nine days, worshipers will honor the nine forms of the Goddess. Early Sunday morning, large crowds gathered at Prayagraj’s renowned Dashashwamedh Ghat and the Alok Shankari Shakti Peeth for prayers and rituals.
Prayagraj, known as the city of faith and pilgrimage, is a significant religious hub. On the first day of Navratri, the Alok Shankari temple witnessed an overwhelming turnout of devotees as they arrived for worship from the Brahma Muhurta, the auspicious time for prayers.
Many devotees flocked to seek blessings from the Goddess, praying for prosperity and well-being. The Alok Shankari Shakti Peeth is unique in that it features worship of both a sacred pond and a swing.
Mansukh Maharaj, the chief priest of the Alok Shankari temple, shared insights about the temple’s significance. He explained that it is believed that the ring finger of Goddess Sati fell here, making this site revered as both Alopi Mata and Shakti Peeth Mahadeshwari. “Today marks the first day of Sharadiya Navratri, dedicated to the worship of Shailaputri. That’s why we are seeing long queues of devotees since dawn, and all preparations are complete,” he noted.
At the Dashashwamedh Ghat, devotees took holy dips in the Ganges, seeking blessings and performing rituals for the first form of Goddess Durga. The crowds have been steadily growing, as they engage in prayers and vow to observe the nine-day fast and rituals.
Priest Pramod Tiwari remarked, “Today is the first day of worship for Goddess Durga, as Navratri kicks off. Many people establish pots for the Goddess in their homes and bring Ganga water and soil for rituals.”
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