Varanasi: Varanasi and adjoining districts witnessed a massive influx of devotees on Monday, as the nine-day Navratri festival concluded with Maha Navami prayers and rituals.Devotees started gathering at major religious sites since early morning hours on Monday to offer prayers. A large number of devotees thronged Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple to seek blessings. The temple premises and surrounding lanes remained crowded as worshippers waited for their turn to offer prayers.Chanting of hymns and slogans in praise of the goddess and Lord Shiva echoed through the temple area as the festive spirit reached its peak.The rush was particularly heavy in Mirzapur, where thousands of devotees visited Maa Vindhyavasini Temple at Vindhyachal. Long queues were seen outside the temple from the early morning. Pilgrims stood patiently for darshan, many of them having travelled long distances to take part in the Navami rituals.Devotees from several states, including Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, reached Vindhyachal to offer prayers to Maa Vindhyavasini. Many pilgrims said that they had planned their visit well in advance, considering the last day of Navratri to be especially auspicious. Families, elderly devotees, women and children were seen participating in rituals and seeking blessings for health, prosperity and happiness.The temple town of Vindhyachal wore a festive look, with shops selling garlands, coconuts, chunari, sweets and religious items doing brisk business. The entire temple complex remained charged with faith and devotion as worshippers raised slogans in praise of Maa Vindhyavasini.Several pilgrims prayed for social harmony, well-being and prosperity while for many the visit marked the fulfilment of a religious vow.Meanwhile, the Durga Puja pandals set up across the city attracted large crowds throughout the day as people offered prayers before beautifully decorated idols of Goddess Durga. Families moved from one pandal to another, taking part in the celebrations and enjoying the festive arrangements.Security and crowd management measures were in place at major temples and crowded locations. Police personnel were deployed to regulate the movement of devotees and ensure smooth darshan. Barricades and queue systems were used at several places to manage the heavy footfall.
