Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Navratri Begins as Devotees Fill Temples Across India
Shardiya Navratri began on Sunday, and many people went to temples to pray.
The festival lasts for nine nights and celebrates Goddess Durga.
People gathered at temples in many parts of India, including Katra, Guwahati, Haridwar and Delhi.
Some temples had long queues and special arrangements for visitors.
At Sukrala Mata Temple, officials said security and new pilgrim facilities were in place.
In Lucknow, people could not enter Maa Chandrika Devi Temple because water had collected around it.
Priests still performed the temple's daily rituals inside.
The festival ends with Vijayadashami, also called Dussehra.
Thousands of devotees visited temples across India on Sunday, the first day of Shardiya Navratri.
Crowds gathered at Vaishno Devi in Katra and Sukrala Mata Temple in Billawar, where officials described security and pilgrim facilities.
Devotees also gathered at temples in Assam, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Entry to Maa Chandrika Devi Temple in Lucknow was temporarily barred because of waterlogging linked to rising Gomti River levels; priests continued rituals inside.
Shardiya Navratri is observed over nine nights and concludes with Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra; one report gives the conclusion date as October 20.
- Who
- Thousands of devotees, temple priests and local officials.
- What
- Shardiya Navratri began, with devotees visiting temples and offering prayers.
- When
- Sunday, the first day of the festival; one report says Navratri concludes on October 20.
- Where
- Temples across India, including sites in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other states.
- Why
- Devotees gathered to worship Goddess Durga and seek blessings during Navratri.
Access to worship
Public safety
Temporary closure in Lucknow
Access to worship
Devotees were unable to enter Maa Chandrika Devi Temple during the first day of Navratri.
Public safety
Authorities barred public entry as a safety precaution amid waterlogging, while priests continued rituals inside.
- Festival
- Shardiya Navratri
- Opening day
- Sunday, the first day of the festival
- Duration
- Nine nights
- Katra shrine
- Pilgrims gathered at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and its base camp.
- Billawar arrangements
- Officials cited security deployments, civic amenities and a newly constructed two-storey pilgrim rest house.
- Lucknow closure
- Public entry to Maa Chandrika Devi Temple was temporarily prohibited due to waterlogging associated with rising Gomti River levels.
- Festival conclusion
- Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra; one article states the date as October 20.
