Devotees take holy dip in Ganga River, offer prayers on first day of Chaitra Navaratri

On April 9, the first day of Chaitra Navaratri, devotees gathered at the banks of the Ganga river in Prayagraj for a holy dip.

The day additionally marked Somvati Amavasya, a significant event in Hinduism where devotees perform rituals including bathing and charity for their ancestors.

Chaitra Navaratri, a nine-day-long festival, begins on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar and is dedicated to the worship of Maa Durga and her nine divine incarnations. The festival also coincides with Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

On the first day, devotees worship Maa Shailputri, an avatar of Goddess Durga, and perform Ghatasthapana. Maa Shailputri, revered as the provider of prosperity and fortunes, governs the moon.

She is also known as the daughter of Lord Himalaya after her self-immolation, with Shail meaning mountain and Putri meaning daughter in Sanskrit.

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