It is Day 7 of the nine-day Navratri festival. Several devotees are thronging the Vaishno Devi Shrine and will be performing kanya pujan at the Mata Bhawan over the next two days. While some devotees perform the kanya pujan on Ashtami (eighth Navaratri), others perform the ritual on Navami (ninth Navaratri). The tenth day will be celebrated as Dussehra on October 19. During the nine days of Navratri, the Vaishno Devi pilgrims participate in huge numbers in the morning and evening Mata ki Aarti at the Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan. Maa Vaishno Devi Katha For Navratri 2018: Know the Story of The Goddess Through This Video.

Maa Vaishno Devi is believed to be the human form of Devi who was sent to Earth to protect what is right. Devotees during the Navratri sing or listen to devotional songs of the Goddess and also chant the Durga stuti. The devotees also listen to the Vaishno Devi Katha during Navratra. Those who are not able to visit the Vaishno Devi temple this Navratri can watch the morning and evening aarti online. To watch the Vaishno Devi aarti and darshan live on Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board website, click here. You can also watch it on YouTube. To watch it live on MH One Shraddha YouTube channel, click here.

Meanwhile, Vaishno Devi pilgrims have a good news coming from the Shrine Board this Navratri. The Shrine Board has approved enhancement of free accident insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh for all the pilgrims. The accident cover has been extended to each pilgrim free of cost and shall now be Rs five lakh instead of existing Rs three lakh for pilgrims aged five years and above and Rs three lakh for pilgrims below five years of age up from Rs one lakh at present. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has approved the enhancement of free accident insurance cover besides free treatment to trauma victims from nearby areas.

Navaratri 2018

During the nine days of Navratri, devotees worship the nine forms of Durga Maa known as Navdurga. Each of her manifestations – Shailaputri, Brahmacharirni, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidhatri – is worshipped on each of the nine days. According to traditions, all her nine forms have emerged out of the three major forms of the Goddess – Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali. Each represents the energies of the holy triumvirate of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. Maa Durga is known by 108 names and some among them are Adi Parashakti, Devi, Bhavani, Amba, Parvati and Yogmaya. Navaratri 2018 Dates & Tithi Calendar: Shubh Muhurat & Time for Puja and Aarti During Nine-Day Sharad Navratri Festival.

The festival of Navratri ends with Dussehra or Vijay Dashmi. This year, Dussehra is on October 19, which will mark the end of Navratri.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 16, 2018 05:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).