Overview

• Drik Panchang’s calendar sets the festival from September 22 to October 2, with Ashtami on September 30, Navami on October 1 and Vijayadashami on October 2.
• Large turnouts were reported at Delhi’s Jhandewalan and Kalkaji temples, Katra’s Vaishno Devi, Haridwar’s Mansa Devi, Varanasi’s Shailputri temple and Jodhpur’s Chamunda Mata, with security and crowd controls in place.
• Mumbai’s Mumbadevi and Mahalaxmi temples opened early with extended darshan; Mumbadevi announced a Deepotsav on September 26 and a Chandi Mahayagya on October 1 alongside daily chandi path and security measures.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge posted Navratri greetings, with the PM sharing a Pandit Jasraj bhajan for the first day’s devotion.
• Media advisories highlighted day-wise bhog for each Navadurga, daily colour themes and fasting guidance, including use of sendha namak and alternative flours such as kuttu, rajgira and singhara.