Nation celebrates Durga Puja

Durga Puja is being celebrated today in many parts of the country on the occasion of Maha Navami.

Devotees in large numbers thronged temples and offered their prayers on the ninth day of Navratri, also known as Navami.

The auspicious festival of nine days is celebrated in the Indian month of Ashwina.

It is believed that the festival marks the victory of goddess Durga over a demon named Mahishasura and epitomises the victory of good over evil.

In Assam, various pandals have been set highlighting contemporary issues like including rhino poaching, women empowerment.

Several Durga Puja pandals in the state have completed 400 years of celebration.

In an exceptional endeavour, under privileged boys and girls from tea gardens of Darjeeling, have been given the opportunity to judge the Durgapuja Pandals in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, in Odisha, heavy rush of devotees was witnessed at all Puja Mandaps across the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack and other towns and rural areas as well.

Asking the masses to ensure cleanliness, President Pranab Mukherjee too called upon the people and requested all to take pledge in the regard.

Addressing a gathering at in the Birbhum district of West Bengal yesterday, he said, "Together people can clean this vast country and they must take pledge to follow the cleanliness measures."

President Mukherjee is staying at his ancestral place in Birbhum for Durga Puja celebrations.