New Delhi: The auspicious nine-day period of Navratri began on Saturday and devotees thronged temples to offer prayers and seek blessings of the almighty on the auspicious occasion. Kalkaji temple and Jhandewalan temple in New Delhi were all decked up with flowers as people stood in long queues to attend the first aarti of the nine-day-long festival.

"I am feeling very happy. We have come here to seek blessings of the almighty. We have been standing in the queue for around two hours," said one of the devotees in Kalkaji temple. People were offered sweets (prasad) after watching the aarti. Aarti was also performed and people were seen offering prayers even at Mumba Devi temple in Mumbai on the first day of Navratri.