People celebrate Navratras with traditional gaiety

Jammu, Apr 6 (UNI) Navratras, the nine-day festival of auspicious nature, today began with traditional gaiety and fervour here.

Large number of devotees thronged the temples since morning to offer prayers on the first day of nine-day festival of Navratras.

Long queues were seen outside the Mata Kali's historic temple inside Bhau Fort here while world-famous Mata Shri Vaishno Devi's abode on Trikuta Hills of Katra.

Similar traditional celebrations were also reported from across the region.

Most of the Hindu devotees observe fasts during the nine-day festival and consume only fruits and milk in their meals, avoiding cereals.

It is believed that if you pray to Maa Durga in these nine nights of Navratras and perform penance, your wishes will come true.

Navratras are observed twice a year. The first set of Navratras falls in March or April while the second are observed in September or October.

UNI VJ JT RK1938