Devotees throng temples across country to offer prayers on second day of Sharadiya Navratri

Devotees, in huge numbers, visited Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.

Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Mata Brahmacharini on the second day of Navratri.

Devotees also visited and worshipped at the Maa Chandi Devi Temple in Haridwar.

Indian Cricket Team's head coach Gautam Gambhir visited Maa Pitambara Temple in Datia, Madhya Pradesh, and offered prayers on this occasion.

In Delhi devotees, in huge numbers, reached Shri Kalka Ji Temple on the occasion.

Devotees also visited Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam, also known as Kanaka Devi Temple, on the occasion of the Navratri festival in Vijayawada.

An aarti was performed at Shri Adhya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir in Chhatarpur on this occasion.

Aarti was performed at the Jandewalan Mata temple in the national capital on Friday morning as well.

Tight security arrangements have been made at the Kalika Temple Devasthan in Nashik as devotees throng the temple.

DCP Ravindra Kumar Chavan said, "The Kalika Devi Utsav has started. The traffic has been diverted because of it. Around 100 police personnel will be deployed 24/7... Police will also be deployed in civil dress. More than 100 CCTV cameras have been installed. Fire brigade and ambulance will also be available there... Thousands of devotees come here every day. Police helpline no. 112 will be functional 24/7."

A Durga Puja pandal based on Ayodhya's Ram Temple theme has been built in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal.

A Durga Puja Pandal inspired by Tirupati Balaji temple, has been set up in Kolkata's Lake Town.

Sujit Bose, West Bengal Minister and President of Sreebhumi Sporting Club said, "This year we decided to keep the theme (of Durga Puja Pandal) Tirupati Balaji Temple, which is 100 feet, ply has been used to build this."

Joint CP of Southern Range, Sanjay Kumar Jain inspected the Durga Puja Pandal at CR Park, he said, "CR Park's Durga Puja Pandal is very famous. Not only from South Delhi but people from the entire Delhi-NCR region come to visit. We have started preparations regarding security arrangements one and half months before. We have conducted meetings with the organisers and prepared a checklist regarding security arrangements."

Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances.

Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances like Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. (ANI)