Navratra festivities begin at City of Temples

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 8

On the first day of Navratras today, thousands of devotees paid obeisance at the historic Bahu Fort temple, also called Bawe Wali Mata. From early morning people visited the shrine and offered prayers.

Apart from the Bawe Wali Mata shrine, special prayers were held in the temples dedicated to Goddess Durga across the region with number of social and religious organisations putting up various food stalls.

The festival is also known for fasting and irrespective of age, devotees survive on fruits, curd, milk and dishes made of water chestnut flour during the nine-day festivities. Meanwhile, restaurants across the city also do brisk business during the festival as Navratri thalis are very popular among the food lovers, fasting or not.

The whole temple complex has been decorated with flowers and lights for the nine-day-long festivities dedicated to different incarnations of Goddess Durga. Devotees from across the region thronged the shrine considered as presiding deity of the city.