Rs 28.37 lakh offered at three shrines on first Navratra

On the opening day of the Ashwin Navratri fair, devotees offered a total of Rs 28.37 lakh across Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Shri Kali Mata Temple, Kalka, and Chandi Mata Temple. At the Mansa Devi shrine alone, around 40,000 devotees paid obeisance.

Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrator of the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board, Satpal Sharma, informed that Rs 22,33,180 was offered at Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple, Rs 6,01,410 at Shri Kali Mata Temple, Kalka, and Rs 2,410 at Chandi Mata Temple.

In addition, one gold item and eight silver items were also donated at the Mansa Devi shrine.

Devotees throng Kalka’s historic Kali Mata Temple

A large number of devotees gathered at the historic Kali Mata temple in Kalka on Monday to mark the first day of the Sharadiya Navratras. On the occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Kartikeya Sharma also paid obeisance at the shrine, performed rituals and participated in the Havan-Yajna, praying for the peace and prosperity of the nation and the state.

Speaking after offering prayers, Sharma said that Navratri is a festival of spiritual strength which reminds people that truth and righteousness always prevail. Extending his greetings to the people of Haryana and the country, he underlined the significance of the nine days of devotion that began today.

The MP noted that the festive season has now begun, with Dussehra and Diwali to follow. He added that this period has also brought a major gift from the Centre in the form of a reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on essential commodities.

Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to cut GST on everyday items a historic move, Sharma said it will provide significant relief to the common man and the weaker sections of society.

Police meet taxi drivers ahead of Navratra Mela

With the Navratra Mela drawing large crowds to the Kali Mata Temple, Panchkula Traffic Police have intensified preparations to ensure smooth traffic flow and devotee convenience. Acting under the guidance of Police Commissioner Shivas Kaviraj and the leadership of DCP Traffic Manpreet Singh Sudan, the traffic wing is actively coordinating with stakeholders. As part of the measures, Surajpur Traffic SHO Abhishek held a meeting today with members of the Kalka Taxi Union. Taxi drivers were strictly instructed not to park their vehicles in or around the temple complex to prevent inconvenience to devotees and disruption of traffic. Hedirected drivers to adhere to traffic rules and cooperate with police during the festive period, emphasising that the heavy footfall during Navratra makes discipline essential. He appealed to taxi operators to use only designated parking sites.

DCP Traffic Manpreet Singh Sudan assured that elaborate arrangements have been made to prevent any disorder. He added that if vehicle operators follow traffic regulations and police instructions, devotees will face no difficulty and the fair will remain peaceful and secure.