Pune: Navaratra dawned on Thursday bathing Pune's streets into a sea of yellow with people donning the vibrant colour to mark the first day of the nine-day festival. The city pulsed with festive energy, from winding queues at the revered Chatushrungi temple to youngsters rehearsing for upcoming cultural nights. Maharashtrians started the first day of Navaratra with ‘ ghatasthapana ' in their homes where a pot (kalash) filled with water is placed on a bed of prepared soil sown with grain which sprout over the next nine days.
Sujata Hazare, a resident of Kalyaninagar, said, "Every day, a new garland is placed on the kalash and a different prasad is given out. The most important part of ‘ghatasthapana' is the lamp which is kept lit continuously from the first day to the last day." Pune Heritage Walks' Randhir Naidu said a special walk has been organised on Saturday to explore the homes of Pune's historically significant women.
"This Navaratra-Dasara special heritage walk , we will visit some important places associated with Rajmata Jijabai, Savitribai Phule, Lakshmibai Gadve and Dr Anandibai Joshi. We will get to know about their achievements and some interesting stories that made them legendary," Naidu added. Pradeep Kaimal, trustee of Pimpri Ayyappa temple, said from Thursday, the devotees have started reading Devi Mahatmyam (in praise of the goddess) in the temple and it will continue for nine days.
"For Malayalis, the eighth day is important as that is the day when stude.
