Key Points

The Union Home Minister's appearance at the cultural event came a day after he visited several Garba celebrations organised by various residential associations in Ahmedabad, as part of the ongoing Sharadiya Navratri festivities.

In a post on social media platform X, Shah shared glimpses of the celebration and expressed his devotion to the Goddess. "On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, I participated in the Navratri Garba festival at Vrajdham Apartment and Orchid Legacy in Ahmedabad's Sarkhej Ward and received the blessings of Mother Goddess," he said in a post.

Earlier on Monday, Shah took part in Garba celebrations at Vrajdham Apartment and Orchid Legacy in Sarkhej, Ahmedabad. He reiterated the same message in another post on X, highlighting the spiritual significance of the festival and the warmth of the community gatherings.

Navratri, also referred to as Sharadiya Navratri, is a vibrant and widely celebrated Hindu festival observed across India, with especially grand festivities in Gujarat. The nine-night festival, held during the lunar month of Ashwin, is dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, each symbolising distinct qualities such as power, wisdom, and compassion.

The celebrations are marked by daily prayers, fasting, devotional songs, and energetic traditional dance forms such as Garba and Dandiya Raas. In Gujarat, large community gatherings and cultural performances are central to the observance, attracting thousands of devotees and performers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his greetings on the occasion of Navratri. On the second day of the festival, which is dedicated to Maa Brahmacharini, PM Modi offered prayers and invoked blessings for devotees.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister posted, "On this Navratri, today, millions of salutations at the feet of Maa Brahmacharini! May the Goddess Mother bless all her devotees with courage and restraint." He also shared a spiritual Devi Stuti (devotional hymn) to mark the occasion.

- ANI