Chaitra Navratri festival begins across the country

The nine-day-long Chaitra Navratri festival began on Sunday with the morning aarti at temples across the country. Navratri is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. The nine-day long festival concludes on Ram Navami, which marks the birthday of Lord Ram. The festival is celebrated with great devotion across India, with rituals and prayers honouring the goddess in her various forms. On the first day of Chaitra Navratri, large number of devotees gather to pay obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi Mandir in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday morning.
All famous temples and Shakti Peeths across the country have been beautifully decorated on the occasion. People in large numbers are visiting the temples to offer special prayers. The festival is celebrated with great devotion across the country, with rituals and prayers honouring the goddess in her various forms.
The traditional New Year festivals of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba are being celebrated in different parts of the country on Sunday. The day also marks the beginning of Chaitra Navratri. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the people on the occasion. 
In a social media post, President Murmu highlighted that these festivals, celebrated to welcome the spring season and mark the advent of the New Year, symbolize unity in India’s rich cultural diversity. She said, these celebrations infuse new energy and enthusiasm among the people. 
Vice President Dhankhar in his message said, these festivals, known by different names across Bharat, mark the beginning of the traditional New Year. He emphasized that they not only symbolize renewal, prosperity, and hope, but everyone’s integral connect with Mother Nature. 
Extending his greetings, Prime Minister Modi prayed for the good health and prosperity of all citizens on the occasion. He expressed hope that the occasion of Nav Samvatsar will bring new enthusiasm in people’s lives and energize the collective resolve for a developed India. The Prime Minister also shared a hymn by Pandit Jasraj, dedicated to the worship of the Mother Goddess, in honour of the beginning of Navratri. He remarked that Navratri awakens a renewed sense of devotion among devotees of the Goddess.
Hindus observe four Navratris throughout the year, but only two--Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri--are widely celebrated as they coincide with the changing of the seasons. In India, Navratri is celebrated in various forms and traditions.