Preparations for Chaitra Navratri are in full swing as temples across the country adorn themselves with flowers for the nine-day festival dedicated to the worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. Starting on March 19, 2026, the festival will culminate with Ram Navami, with each day honoring a different form of the goddess, associated with specific colors and offerings.
In Delhi, the Kalkaji Temple is embellished with vibrant flowers and colorful ‘chunris’ for the first Navratri of the year, attracting a crowd of devotees who gathered to offer prayers and capture moments at the temple. Similarly, the Chichi Mata Temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district is also beautifully decorated for the festival, with devotees lining up to offer prayers amidst last-minute preparations with artificial flowers.
Pandit Bansi Lal of Chichi Mata Temple extended his best wishes to devotees for Chaitra Navratri, emphasizing the auspicious time for rituals like ‘Kalash Sthapana’ after 6:40 AM. He encouraged devotees to seek blessings at the temple, highlighting the well-prepared festival arrangements. Meanwhile, in Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh, security measures have been heightened ahead of Chaitra Navratri and Eid, with strict identity checks of commuters and heavy security deployment.
Varanasi Municipal Corporation’s Public Relations Officer, Sandeep Srivastava, mentioned the commencement of preparations for Navratri, including the closure of meat and fish shops within municipal limits and enhanced cleaning of places of worship throughout the day. Additionally, arrangements for street lighting have been ensured.
