Spl trains, ropeway facilities, tight security at Chhattisgarh’s Shakti Peeths as Chaitra Navratri begins

The nine-day festival of Chaitra Navratri began on Thursday. The temples across Chhattisgarh decked up with devotees lining up since early morning for the first glimpse of the goddess Durga. From the tribal heartland of Bastar to the hilltop shrine in Dongargarh, the air is filled with devotion.

At the Maa Danteshwari temple in Bastar, priests began the day with special rituals even before sunrise. In Dongargarh, the Maa Bamleshwari temple perched on a hilltop witnessed a steady stream of devotees making their way up. While some climbing the stairs, others opting for the ropeway. In Ratanpur and Raipur too, the Mahamaya temples saw crowds gather for the morning aarti.

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Devotees not just from different states but also from countries like the US, UK and Dubai have booked their slots online to have the sacred lamp lit on their behalf. “They want to be part of the festival even from so far away. It’s touching,” said a priest at the Raipur Mahamaya temple.

Keeping the rush in mind, the administration has made arrangements that go beyond the usual. At Dongargarh, one of the state’s busiest pilgrimage spots during Navratri, 10 express trains will make temporary stops to help devotees alight closer to the town. Local train services have been extended between March 19 and 27, and a special train is also running on the Dongargarh-Durg route to handle the extra load.

Astrologers point out that this year’s Navratri comes with an auspicious combination. Kalash sthapna taking place on Amavasya tithi after a long gap is considered highly sacred. The presence of Shukla and Brahma yog together, the festival gains even more significance, they say.

At Ratanpur’s Mahamaya temple in Bilaspur district, dedicated to Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, the administration has set up community kitchens, health camps and parking zones.

Special police teams have been deployed across the town and on the hill in Dongargarh as security is big focus. The ropeway, a lifeline for elderly devotees and those with disabilities, is expected to run at full capacity through the nine days.

In Dantewada, flawless arrangements have been made in the historic Maa Danteshwari temple for special darshan queues, accommodation and prasad distribution. Given the region’s context, local police are coordinating closely with temple authorities to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims.

The Mahamaya temple in Raipur has introduced online donation and bhog booking to manage the crowds. The deity will be adorned in special shringar each of the nine days, with cultural programs lined up in the evenings.

Across all major temples, devotees will find drinking water stations, health facilities, free bhandaras, dharmashalas and parking. Some temples have also made VIP darshan arrangements to streamline the flow.

As the sun rose on Thursday, ghatasthapna rituals were performed in homes and temples alike. For the next nine days, devotees will observe fasts, visit temples and take part in evening aartis.