Ayodhya (UP), Mar 30 (UNI) A huge influx of devotees thronged Devi temples in Ayodhya, the city of Lord Ram, to seek the blessings of Goddess Shailputri, on the first day of Chaitra Navratri on Sunday.
Chants of 'Jai Mata Di' echoed throughout the city as devotees commenced the nine-day festival by performing Kalash Sthapana in their homes, marking the arrival of the Goddess. By dawn, major temples, including Badi Devkali, the Kuldevi (family deity) of Lord Ram, and Chhoti Devkali, the Kuldevi of Goddess Sita, were abuzz with activity, as crowds gathered, filling the atmosphere with devotional songs and Vedic chants.
The festive fervour was also evident at other significant temples, including Mata Mari Temple at Guptar Ghat, Pateshwari Mata Temple in Cantt, and Sheetla Mata Temple near Makbara, where worshippers continued to offer prayers late into the evening.