Devotees visit temples, perform kanya pujan to celebrate Ashtami of Navratri

Kanpur: Devotees will celebrate Ram Navami on April 6. On Saturday, people observed Ashtami of Chaitra Navratri

and offered their special prayers to Goddess Durga and sought her blessings.

They observed fasts and visited renowned Durga temples of the city, performed hawan and organised Kanya bhoj to please the goddess.

Queues of devotees were witnessed at Bara Devi temple, Tapeshwari Devi temple, Kali Bari, Vaishno Devi temple, Jangali Devi temple and Kalu Mathaia temple in Shastri Nagar.

The devotees' visits continued throughout the day as they waited patiently to offer their prayers before the deity.

According to Vishwa Bandhu Bajpai, Durga Ashtami focuses particularly on worshipping Goddess Mahagauri, one of the nine forms of Goddess Durga, and signifies purity, peace and prosperity.

The day is deemed highly auspicious for those seeking to overcome difficulties, clear obstacles and receive divine grace.

Ram Navami celebrates Lord Ram's birth anniversary. The day is observed on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra. Recitations of Ram Katha, processions dedicated to Lord Ram, offering prayers in temples and homes are principal customs followed on this day.

The traffic department has arranged special provisions for Shobha Yatra, commencing from Ram Lala Temple Rawatpur, passing through Vijay Nagar Crossing, Namak Factory crossing, Maswanpur. Heavy vehicles are restricted from Namak Factory crossing to Vijay Nagar, redirected towards Jarib chauki and Fazal ganj.

Heavy vehicles cannot proceed from Sharda Nagar crossing to Chapera Pulia, instead routing from Sharda Nagar to Gurudev crossing. The route from Cylinder crossing to KDMA school and Shaneshwar Temple will also be closed for heavy vehicles.

Traffic restrictions will commence from 4 a.m. until the conclusion of Shobha Yatra.