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Allahabad/Varanasi/Ayodhaya, Oct.8 (ANI): Thousands of devotees across Uttar Pradesh took holy dips in rivers on the first day of a nine-day long Navratri festival on Friday.

Allahabad, famous for the confluence of the three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the Saraswati, witnessed thousands of devotees converging on the banks of the rivers for the ritual dip.

Devotees converged at Allahabad’s famous Siddh Pith temple to offer prayers.

“Today is the first day of Navaratri. People take bath in the holy rivers and perform holy rituals. The fasting for nine days starts from today,” said Jayram Mishra, a temple priest, Allahabad.

Meanwhile, in Varanasi thousands of devotees took the holy dip in the River Ganga.

On the first day, Goddess Shaileja revered as Durga’s first incarnation is worshipped.

“Today, because of the first day of Navaratri and end of the new moon, thousands of people coming from Gaya district in Bihar and several others there is a lot of chaos,” said Rajeshwar Dwivedi, a priest at Varanasi.

At Ayodhya, devotees in large numbers visited the famous Maa Choti Devi Kali Mandir, and the blessings of the Goddess Kali.

“We have come here to seek the blessings of Goddess Kali. There is a popular belief here that during Navaratri, all the wishes are fulfilled. This is a very famous temple,” said Vivek Aggarwal, a devotee.

During Navaratri, people worship all the nine incarnations of Goddess Durga.

Navratri culminates with the festival of Dussera. (ANI)