Thousands of devotees across India gathered at temples on Shardiya Navratri’s first day, offering prayers to Goddess Durga amid elaborate rituals, long queues and celebrations. Major gatherings were reported at Mata Vaishno Devi, Juna Ambaji, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Mumbai, Haridwar, Dewas and Vijayapura, featuring morning aartis, pilgrim preparations, processions and collection of sacred Ganga water.
