Panchkula (Haryana) [India], April 11 (HBTV): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini offered prayers at the Prachin Shree Kali Mata Mandir in Kalka on Friday, stating that he prayed for the well-being of the people of the state and the nation.

‘I offered prayers at the Prachin Shree Kali Mata Mandir on the occasion of Navaratri. I prayed for the well-being of the people of the state and nation. May Haryana touch new heights of development... On the occasion of Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanti on 14th April, PM Modi will be coming to Haryana to inaugurate various development projects,’ CM Saini said.

Earlier on March 31, CM Saini had also offered prayers at the Mata Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula on the second day of the nine-day-long Chaitra Navratri festival.

Navratri, which means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival celebrating Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known collectively as Navdurga. Hindus observe four Navratris throughout the year, but only two—Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri—are widely celebrated, coinciding with the changing of the seasons.

The nine-day festival, also known as Ram Navratri, concludes on Ram Navami, which marks the birth of Lord Ram. Each day of the festival is devoted to honouring one of the nine incarnations of the goddess Shakti.

The festival is observed with great devotion across India, with rituals and prayers dedicated to the goddess in her various forms.

Akashvani’s Aradhana YouTube Channel is presenting a series of special programs from March 30 to April 6 to mark Navratri. The celebrations will culminate in a grand live program on Ram Janmotsav, broadcast directly from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya. This special broadcast is scheduled for April 6 from 11:45 AM to 12:15 PM.

(ANI)