Patna: Chaitra Navaratra begins with no pomp & show

PATNA: Chaitra Navaratra, a period of nine days when devotees worship different avatars of Goddess Durga, began on Wednesday with less than usual grandeur amid coronavirus outbreak.
Empty streets were witnessed on Day 1 of the festival as Patnaites worshipped the goddess at home, instead of thronging temples. Even priests avoided mass gatherings and did not step out of their houses.
“I did not go to anyone’s house or temple to perform the Navaratra rituals. I have decided to follow the government’s instructions and stay at home,” city-based priest Gyan Prakash told this newspaper.
Meanwhile, many devotees had a tough time making arrangements for the ‘puja’. Ranjan Sinha, a resident of Saguna Mor, rued, “Chaitra Navaratra is an auspicious festival and I look forward to celebrating it with religious fervour every year. This time, however, it is going to be a low-key affair because of the lockdown.”
Another resident, Shyama Gupta, said, “Last night, I went out to buy ‘puja’ items, but did not get most of them.”
Others did last-minute preparations for ‘kalash sthapana’ and fast. “Despite the lockdown, I purchased milk, dry fruits, fruits and other items for my mother, who observes fast during Chaitra Navaratra,” claimed Aditya Rai, a resident of Boring Road.
Even temples wore a deserted look on the first day of Chaitra Navaratra. The Mahavir Temple near the Patna Junction, where hundreds of devotees offer prayers, did not witness mass gatherings. “The doors have been locked and devotees are not allowed to enter the temple. We organize several events and programmes during this time, but this year the situation is different,” said Kishore Kunal, secretary of the temple’s trust committee.
‘Shobha yatras’ cancelled: All ‘shobha yatras’ have been cancelled in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
BJP MLA Nitin Naveen, who also organizes such ‘yatras’ said, “Keeping in mind the nationwide lockdown to stop the spread of the virus, all ‘shobha yatras’ and other programmes have been cancelled. We have advised people to celebrate the festival at home.”