10-day Navratri festival begins at Kolhapur's Mahalaxmi temple; 25 lakh devotees expected

Kolhapur, Oct 11 (UNI) The 10-day Navratri festival began at the famous Karveer Nivasini Shree Mahalaxmi temple, popularly known as Ambabai, in Kolhapur on Sunday with traditional rituals and religious fervour. The district administration expects around 25 lakh devotees from Maharashtra and neighbouring states to visit the temple during the festival. The celebrations began with the Ghatsthapana ritual, followed by an Abhishek of the deity performed by Shree Pujak Madhav Munishwar and chief priest Kiran Latkar. Western Maharashtra Devasthan Management Committee secretary Vasha Salunkhe subsequently performed the official puja, followed by Ghatsthapana and the Alankaric puja. An allegorical puja of…