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Special for Navratri: India’s top Durga temples
One of the most well-known and enthusiastically observed Hindu holidays in India is Navratri. A nine-day fast is observed during this period, and fervent followers go to revered Durga temples to offer prayers to Maa Shakti (a version of Durga). Additionally, this is the time of year when pilgrims from all over the world visit the nation’s most important Shakti Peethas.
Temple of Vaishno Devi in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir
Hindu worshippers from all over the world travel to India to worship at one of the holiest temples there. The temple, which is located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra area, is constantly filled with devotees. In the form of boulders, Goddess Durga is said to reside in this cave. A 13-kilometre incline leads to the shrine from Katra.
Udaipur’s (Tripura) Tripura Sundari Temple
According to Hindu legend, the temple was erected where Sati’s right foot landed. The temple is located in the northeast Indian state of Tripura’s Udaipur, originally known as Rangamati. The goddess Maa Kali, who is revered in the temple as Soroshi, is prayed to by devotees.
Temple of Mangala Gauri in Gaya, Bihar
It’s a common misconception that Devi Sati’s breast fell where the current temple is now. The temple is a must-see place of worship in Gaya, and the Navratri festival is celebrated here with lavish displays.
Temple of Mahalaxmi Devi in Kolhapur, Maharashtra
On the site where Sati’s left hand hit the ground, a temple was erected. In addition to being a Shakti peetha, it is one of the six locations where devotees go to get their wishes granted. The black stone was used to sculpt the Mahalakshmi statue.
Temple of Maha Kali Devi in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
The Hara Sidhi Mata Temple is another name for the structure. Where the temple now stands is where Sati’s upper lip is reported to have fallen. In India, it is a well-known Shakti Peetha shrine.
Guwahati (Assam)’s Kamakhya Temple
One of India’s most well-known Shakti peetha temples is this hilltop temple. The yoni or vagina of Devi Sati is thought to have fallen on the same site where the temple now stands. There is a little sculpture of Yoni in this cave. One such celebration that is enthusiastically observed is Navratri, and during this time, the temple experiences heavy foot traffic.
Kolkata, West Bengal’s Kalighat Temple
Kolkata is renowned for its magnificent Durga Puja and Navratri celebrations. The right foot of Goddess Sati’s foot is where the Kalighat Temple is reported to be located. Every year, during the Navratri months of April and October, the temple receives countless pilgrims. The temple, which is approximately 2,000 years old, is located along the Adi Ganga!
Temple of Jwala Devi in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
The Jwala Devi Temple, one of Himachal Pradesh’s most revered locations, is located about 40 kilometers south of Kangra Valley. The temple is well known for its nine eternal (permanent) flames, each of which is named after one of the nine forms of the goddess Shakti.
Temple to Danteshwari in Bastar, Chhattisgarh
The temple, which honors Goddess Danteshwari, is a popular destination in the region. The site of the temple is thought to have been chosen by the Goddess Sati after one of her teeth dropped there. A must-attend event during Navratri is the magnificent procession that takes place in this region of the nation.
Temple of Chamundeshwari in Mysore, Karnataka
The temple was erected on the spot where Sati’s hair landed on top of the Chamundi Hills in Mysore. The temple’s stunning architecture draws a huge number of pilgrims from near and far each year.