PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun’s major markets, including Hanuman Chowk, Raja Road, Paltan Bazaar and others have been decked up with decorative items and pooja materials as the Chaitra Navratri festival begins on Thursday. Many devotees flocked to these markets on Wednesday to complete their last-minute preparations for the celebration. There was a noticeable influx of people purchasing items from fruit vendors, Pooja stores and other related shops for the occasion.
It is important to note that Chaitra Navratri will commence on March 19 and conclude on March 27 this year. During this period, nine distinct forms of Goddess Durga will be honoured over nine days.
Pooja shop owner Vansh Upadhyaya reported a significant increase in footfalls at his shop since morning. Devotees were purchasing various Pooja materials, including goddess idols, Chunri, Kalash, Tika and many other items. He expressed excitement over the increased sales of Pooja items on the said day.
In addition to Pooja materials, fruit vendors in the market also experienced a surge in customers. One fruit vendor, Ravi Kumar, said that customers have been visiting his stall to buy fruits in large quantities. Many people observe fasts during this occasion, sometimes for two days or for the entire nine days of Navratri. While fasting, they prefer to consume fruits, leading to a noticeable increase in fruit sales during this time.
Notably, many city temples have also been beautifully decorated with flowers, lights and other decorations in anticipation of the Navratri celebrations.
