Devotees celebrate 'Navratre' in Jammu and Kashmir

Samba (Jammu and Kashmir), Mar 19: Devotees thronged the temple of goddess 'Chichi' in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba city, to offer prayers during the ongoing nine-day-long festival of 'Navratre' on Thursday.

Hindu pilgrims visit the temple and attend the fair under strict supervision of the temple authorities.

Commonly said to be pilgrims' Pehla Darshan (first viewing) of the Vaishno Devi temple, the Chichi Mata temple commands an important position in the religious ancestry of the state.

Due to the increase in the number of deities over the year, the place where once there used to be a small shrine, has now converted into a big temple where even free meals and accommodation is provided.

'Earlier, during Navratre, a fair used to be organized which used to end just after Ashthmi (eight day of the festival). But now the fair and celebration last even two days after the activities are over,' said Rajkumar Bhidal, a local.

'The pilgrims throng the temple throughout the year. If the pilgrims are going towards Amarnath or tourists are headed towards the Kashmir valley, they do come and visit this temple. There is a portrait of the goddess on the temple gate and visitors make it a point to take blessings,' he added.

Bhidal further said that for people of the Chukna community, the temple holds special relevance.

The Chichi Mata temple is one of the places of worship consecrated to the goddess Sati.

According to legend, it is at the site of this temple that the smallest finger of the goddess Sati landed when her corpse was destroyed by Lord Vishnu to calm the destructive rage of her husband, Lord Shiva.