Key Highlights
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- Day 3 devotion: Temples across India echoed with “Jai Mata Di” as devotees worshiped Maa Chandraghanta on Tuesday.
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- Delhi: Devotees started arriving at the Kalkaji Temple from the night before.
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- Varanasi: Long queues formed at the Maa Chandraghanta Temple, part of Kashi’s Nav Durga temples.
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- Faith over the years: One devotee has traveled 25 km daily every Navratri for 22 years.
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- The offering: Red flowers and the ringing of bells mark the day’s worship.
Devotees across the country marked the third day of Navratri on Tuesday with prayers to Maa Chandraghanta, the third form of Goddess Durga, associated with courage, strength and protection. Temples rang with bells and chants of “Jai Mata Di” from the early hours.
Kalkaji Temple, Delhi: Devotees From the Night Before
At Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple, devotees started arriving as early as the night before. Mahant Surendranath Avadhut, Peethadhiswar of the temple, described the Goddess as seated on a tiger with ten arms, holding a lotus, bow, arrow and garland, along with a sword, mace, trident and water pot. “In these ten arms, she always remains ready to wield various weapons for the protection of devotees,” he said.