The Chaitra Navratri festival began on Sunday with a morning aarti at the iconic Jhandewalan Temple, where Goddess Durga was worshipped as Mata Shailputri on Day 1. Neetu, a devotee who attended the morning aarti at the Jhandewalan temple, said she arrived at 4 am for the aarti and had a very good darshan. "We came here to attend the morning aarti at 4 am. We had a very good 'Darshan'. May Goddes bless all," she said.

Priest Ambika Prasad Pant of Jhandewalan Temple explained that on the first day of Chaitra Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Shailputri. "Today is the first day of Chaitra Navratri. Today, Goddess Durga is worshipped in the form of Shailputri. She is called Shailputri because she is believed to be the daughter of Himalaya," he said.