Sangam City Decks Up For Navaratra Festivity

ALLAHABAD: With the nine-day Navratri celebrations starting from Tuesday, city was in a festive mood for the festival. Temples of goddess Durga of the city were being decked up with colourful lights and markets were abuzz with hectic activities. Some restaurants and hotels have come up with special menu for those observing fast.
A large rush of devotees will be seen at famous temples of the city including Kalyani Devi temple, Alopibagh, and Lalita Devi -- which is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth of the country.The temple authorities have also decorated the idols with colourful streamers and marigold flowers.
"I will visit the Kalyani Devi temple with my family to get blessings from Mata rani and offer coconuts, chunri and flowers," said 57-year-old Gansh Keserwani, a resident of Preetam Nagar. "My daughter will plant grains of barley in a pot as part of the festival rituals as the same would be worshiped throughout the nine days," said another devout, Kiran. The pot is kept in the prayer room of the house. Water is sprinkled every day and the house must have at least one occupant at all-time till the khetri is fully grown to about 3-5 inches in length. It is immersed in Ganga after the festival concludes, she explained.
"The festival is also known for fasting and irrespective of age, devotees survive on fruits, curd, milk and dishes made of water chestnut flour and swang rice. Rock salt replaces the normal salt for those who are fasting. I had prepared puris, swang ke chawal and aloo pakoras for the entire family as we all are fasting including the eight year old youngest member of our family," said Shanti Tripathi.
The restaurants and sweet shops have come up with Navratri thalis which are sought after during nine-day festivity. "A Navratri thali usually consists of Kuttu ki roti/poori, fried potatoes, swang ke chawal, saboodana ki tikki or khichdi, kheer, saboodana papad and pakodas,' said Raju Jaiswal, a restaurant owner.
The music shops also make brisk sales during Navaratra as the sale of devotional CDs and DVDs goes up. "CDs of bhajans, both audio and video, dedicated to all the nine forms of goddess Durga and especially those praising the deity of Vindhyachal, Maihar, Kade Dham etc are in great demand", said a shopkeeper in Shahgunj market.
The markets of all the prominent localities including Chowk, Katra, Civil Lines and those in the proximity of various temples are busy selling items that would be consumed during the Nine days of fasting. Chunri, colourful papers, artificial flowers and decorative items etc were in great demand. In some relief to devotees, the civic authorities have repaired some roads leading to the temples.