Devotees throng temples to offer prayers on Janmashtami

The aura there was different, said 25-year-old Kritima.People were also seen carrying prasad for their family members as well.Thousands turned up at temples across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh amid heavy security arrangements and waited in long queues to offer prayers.Children in colourful attires presented cultural and religious performances, while bhajans and discourses on Krishna were organised in temples across the region.In Kurukshetra, people started thronging temples since Thursday evening.Suresh Chander Sharma, priest at the Birla Mandir, said devotes in large numbers began arriving since the morning.

People in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Friday thronged temples decked up with flowers and embellishments to offer prayers on the festival of Janmashtami.

In the national capital, people were seen gathered outside temples in large numbers awaiting their turns. Tents were pitched and carpets laid outside several temple premises in the city to make room for devotees.

Stalls selling garlands and confectionary set up outside these temples were buzzing with people. Many were seen without face masks on.

''Today is a big day for us. I am an ardent follower of Lord Krishna. Every temple is decked up today. In the morning, I went to Iskcon. The aura there was different,'' said 25-year-old Kritima.

People were also seen carrying 'prasad' for their family members as well.

Thousands turned up at temples across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh amid heavy security arrangements and waited in long queues to offer prayers.

Children in colourful attires presented cultural and religious performances, while bhajans and discourses on Krishna were organised in temples across the region.

In Kurukshetra, people started thronging temples since Thursday evening.

Suresh Chander Sharma, priest at the Birla Mandir, said devotes in large numbers began arriving since the morning. In Srinagar, Kashmiri Pandits took out a Janmashtami procession amid tight security arrangements, officials said.

They said the procession started from the Ganpatyar temple in the Habba Kadal area of the city and passed through Tankipora and Jehangir Chowk before reaching the clock tower at the historic Lal Chowk.

Devotees in the procession danced and distributed sweets among people.