Kanpur: A large number of devotees thronged Durga temples across the city on Thursday on the occasion of Ashtami, one of the most significant days of Navratri, to offer prayers.Long queues were witnessed at prominent temples, especially Bara Devi and Tapeshwari Devi. Many devotees took out traditional ‘Jaware’ processions amid chants of goddess Durga before reaching various temples. The influx of devotees continued throughout the day.Ashtami, also known as Mahashtami, marks the eighth day of Navratri and is dedicated to Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of Goddess Durga. On this day, devotees offer special prayers and perform rituals such as Kanya Pujan at their homes, where young girls are worshipped and offered prasad.Temple management committees at Bara Devi and Tapeshwari Devi made special arrangements to manage the heavy rush of devotees. The district administration also deployed senior officials and adequate police force at and around key temples to ensure smooth conduct of rituals.At Bara Devi temple, several devotees lit lamps . Several families also visited temples to perform traditional rituals such as mundan (tonsure) and karna chedan (ear piercing) of children, offering hair to the goddess as part of their religious customs.
