From today, the auspicious festival of Sharadiya Navratri begins. Out of the fifty-one Shakti Peethas spread across the country, three and a half are located in Maharashtra. At Tuljapur, the temple of Tulja Bhavani, in Kolhapur, the shrine of Mahalakshmi, at Mahur in Nanded district, the temple of Renuka Mata, and at Vani, the holy abode of Saptashrungi Devi – all these revered shrines are resonating with devotion and preparation. In Pune as well, temples of Bhavani Mata, Chaturshringi Mata, and the presiding deity Tambadi Jogeshwari are adorned and ready to welcome devotees. This year, Dussehra falls on the eleventh day. Therefore, the celebrations of faith, devotion, and cultural splendour will continue for eleven days. The sound of traditional drums, the chanting of Devi stotras, and the resonant cries of “Jai Mata Di” will fill Maharashtra and the entire nation with an atmosphere of divine energy and devotion.