An 81-foot idol of Goddess Durga installed at Esamia Bazar in Koti, Hyderabad, as part of the nine-day Navaratri celebrations. (Image: Internet)

Navaratri celebrations began across Hyderabad on Sunday, with temples and community pandals organising special pujas and devotional programmes for the nine-day festival dedicated to Goddess Durga.

One of the major attractions is an 81-foot idol of Goddess Durga installed by the Navadurga Navaratri Utsava Samiti at Esamia Bazar in Koti. According to organiser G. Srinivas, the committee had been organising the celebrations for the past 26 years.

The festival began in 2000 with a five-foot idol, with its height gradually increasing to 81 feet over the years. Srinivas said the organisers expected between 50,000 and one lakh devotees to visit the pandal over the weekend.

At the Sri Ujjaini Mahakali Temple in Secunderabad, the presiding deity was adorned in Bala Tripura Sundari alankaram on the first day of Navaratri. Devotees visited the temple to offer special prayers.

At the Sri Annapurna Sametha Kashi Vishweshwara Temple in Seetharam Nagar Colony, Neredmet, devotees participated in special prayers and recitation of hymns. Anitha, a devotee from Secunderabad, said the programme was conducted under the guidance of Perepi Vishalakshi and her disciples.

Women devotees recited Soundarya Lahari, Lalitha Sahasranamam, Kalabhairava Ashtakam and other hymns dedicated to Goddess Durga.

As part of the rituals, Vishalakshi performed Bala Puja, worshipping a young girl as a representation of Goddess Bala Tripura Sundari. She also distributed tamboolam to her disciples as a traditional blessing.

Temples and community pandals across the city have scheduled special rituals, devotional programmes and cultural activities during the nine-day celebrations. Idols of Goddess Durga will be adorned in different alankarams as part of the festivities, which culminate on Vijayadashami on October 20.

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