The nine nights and ten days of Navratri and Durga Puja began on Saturday. Although Kolkata is known for its grandiose at this time of the year, all of India is not lagging too far behind in gearing up for celebration.
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From idols with a thousand hands to 'Kalash Yatra' to Vaishno Devi, here are some photographs from across India that encapsulate the beauty of the two festivals.
(With agency inputs)
Devotees offer prayer
Devotees offer prayers to pay obeisance to one's forefathers on the last day of Pitru Paksh - days for offering prayers to ancestors - when prayers are offered to past relatives in Mumbai.
According to Hindu mythology, this day is also called Mahalaya or the day when the gods created the 10-armed goddess of Shakti, Devi Durga, to destroy the demon king Asura who plotted to drive out the gods from their kingdom. The five-day period of worship of Durga, who is called the destroyer of evil, commences on October 7. (Photo courtesy - AFP)
Idols being transported on boats through Ganga
Idol of Goddess Durga along with that of Saraswati, Lakshmi, Ganesh and Kartik are transported on boats through the waters of river Ganga to pandals, ahead of the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)