Kaleidoscope of colours, devotion unfolds in city temples | Lucknow News

Lucknow: As Navratri dawned, city temples transformed into kaleidoscopes of colour, with deities resplendent in intricately designed attire and devotees indulging in an array of delectable phalahar delights, marking the auspicious beginning of the nine-day festivities.At Kali Bari temple in Ghasyari Mandi, the deity was beautifully adorned with flowers and a luxurious silk Banarasi saree. A special bhog offering of puri, sabzi, and kheer was made to the deity, while lauki halwa was distributed as prasad to devotees. Gautam Bhattacharya, president of the temple’s managing committee, highlighted the arrangements made for the festivities, stating that volunteers have been deployed to manage the crowds, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for devotees to pay their respects.At the Chandrika Devi temple in Bakshi ka Talab, a special “phalahar” bhandara was organized, offering devotees vrat delights like makhana, boiled potatoes, peanuts, and fruits. The deity was beautifully adorned with organic flowers, jewellery, and a silk saree. According to office-bearer Shankar Srivastava, bhandaras will be served to devotees every day throughout the nine-day vrat. The temple’s daily rituals included morning aarti at 6 and evening aarti at 7.Devotees thronged the Badi Kaliji temple at Chowk, standing in serpentine queues to pay their respects. A vibrant fair was underway within the temple premises. Kripansh Rastogi, a 32-year-old devotee, shared his devotion, saying, “I observe a fast for all nine days and make it a point to visit the temple every day, praying for my family’s well-being.”At the Sandohan Devi temple in Chaupatiyan, the festivities began with the kalash sthapna ceremony. The deity was beautifully adorned with a saree and flowers, seated on a lion-shaped vehicle, which would be changed daily along with new sarees. A bhog of misri was offered, and prasad of panchmeva (five types of dry fruits) and fresh fruits were distributed. Bhajan performances were scheduled for all nine days. Veda Bajpai, a 48-year-old devotee who visits the temple every year on the first day of Navratri, shared her devotion, saying, “Maa has always been with me through thick and thin. Since childhood, I’ve prayed for my parents and children’s well-being on this auspicious day.”