12,000 devotees throng Chintpurni temple on first day of Navratra

Tribune Reporters

Una, October 13

The nine-day Navratra fair began today at the Chintpurni shrine. The temple gates were opened to the devotees at 4 am. Temple officer Subhash Chauhan said as many as 12,000 devotees had paid obeisance to the deity by the evening.

A Delhi-based devotee decorated the sanctum with flowers. The devotees are being issued computer generated slips for ‘darshan’ and vigil has been upped.

Amb SDM Sunil Verma, who is also the mela officer, said the temple had been divided into three sectors, each under the command of a sector magistrate and a sector police officer. He said 120 persons had been deployed to maintain cleanliness while use of plastic and disposable plates had been banned.

The SDM said the supply of water, milk and food is being maintained, besides ensuring uninterrupted supply of electricity at the shrine. He said Section 144 had been promulgated.

Kangra drenches in religious fervour

Kangra: Devotees in large numbers turned up at various temples on the first Navratra today. ‘Survojonin Durga Puja’ commenced at Tara Devi Mandir, Ghurkari, on the outskirts of the town.

Artists from Shanti Nikaitan, Kolkata, are giving the final touches to the idols of Goddess Mahishasur Mardini, her two daughters Goddess Laxmi and Goddess Saraswati and her two sons Lord Kartik and Lord Ganesha. Swami AS Bramchari, a priest, said: “Goddess Durga will be worshiped in the temple till October 21.”