A significant number of devotees gathered at temples nationwide on the seventh day of Chaitra Navratri to worship Maa Kaalratri, a fierce form of Goddess Durga. In Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, pilgrims flocked to the Darshani Deori en route to the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple, expressing contentment with the arrangements. One pilgrim, a regular for 20 years, commended the administration’s excellent preparations.
In New Delhi, devotees congregated at the Jhandewalan Temple early in the day to offer prayers on the seventh day of Spring Navratri dedicated to Maa Kaalratri. Temple priest Ambika Prasad Pant mentioned that devotees were actively engaging in her invocation, worship, and darshan. Similar scenes unfolded in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where devotees gathered at the ancient Chamunda Devi Temple to venerate Goddess Kali.
In Madhya Pradesh, special rituals marked the auspicious occasion of Saptami. Temples across the state adorned Mata Rani with intricate decorations, including grand golden embellishments. Chief priest Pawan Dau Ji Maharaj oversaw the Puja ceremonies, with a large number of devotees participating in prayers.
At the Mahakaleshwar Temple, the day commenced with the traditional Bhasma Aarti, Panchamrit Abhishek, ceremonial adornments, and floral offerings, attracting devotees early in the morning. The seventh day of Chaitra Navratri honors Maa Kaalratri, symbolizing courage and protection as the destroyer of darkness and negative energies. Devotees seek her blessings to overcome obstacles and fears, often donning royal blue or orange attire and offering jaggery or sweets.
