Navratri is one of the most revered and popular festivals of India. It is a ten-day festival which culminates with Dussehra or Vijayadashami on the tenth day. The tenth day of the festival is called Dussehra or Vijayadashami.
Dussehra is related to Lord Rama’s triumph over demon king Ravana whereas Vijayadashami is related to Goddess Durga who rid the Earth of the evil demon Mahishasura. Durga Puja is one of the main festivals that is celebrated in West Bengal and Assam.
Must visit Durga temples:
Kamakhya Temple (Guwahati)
Kamkhya Devi Temple in Guwahati is considered one of the most prominent Shakti Peethas in India. It is, in fact, the place where Sati’s yoni (vagina), supposedly, fell, as per the popular beliefs. It is well-connected to both the Guwahati railway station ( approx 6 km) and the Guwahati airport (approx 20 km).
Mata Vaishno Devi Temple (Jammu and Kashmir)
Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra district is visited by hundreds and thousands of pilgrims all through the year. It is one of the 108 shakti peethas in the country. Goddess Vaishno Devi is considered the manifestation of goddess Durga and she resides in the form of rocks within the holy cave of the temple. Devotees usually trek 13 km uphill from Katra to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
The nearest railhead is the Katra railway station, which is around 20 km from the temple. You can also opt for helicopter tours to the temple.
Also Read: Navratri 2024: Chant these powerful Durga Mantras for prosperity and success
Maha Kali Devi Temple (Ujjain)
Also widely known as the Hara Sidhi Mata Temple, Maha Kali Devi Temple is situated on a small hillock in Ujjain, an ancient city beside the Kshipra River in Madhya Pradesh. According to the Hindu mythology, Devi Sati’s upper lip fell on the grounds where this temple stands today. Grah Kalika, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati are the other goddess forms worshipped here. The nearest airport is at Indore, located at a distance of 56 km, while the city has its own railway station.
Kalighat Temple in Kolkata (West Bengal)
In this temple in Kolkata, Durga Puja is grandly celebrated during Navratri. The popular beliefs has it that the toe of the right foot of Goddess Sati is believed to have fallen where this temple stands today. The Kalighat temple remains crowded with thousands of devotees during the month of April and October (Navratri months). This prominent temple is more than 2000 years old and is situated on the banks of a small water body called Adi Ganga. It is revered as an important Shakti Peetha.
Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore (Karnataka)
It is situated on top of Chamundi Hills in Mysore. The temple is among the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. It is said that hair of Sati fell here, and later in 12th century a temple was built by Hoysala rulers in the name of Goddess.
It is located at a distance of 13 km from Mysore and you can easily reach the temple by road. Bengaluru (approx 170 km) is the nearest airport to Mysore, while the city has its own railway station which is well-connected to most parts of the country.
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