Vishakhapatnam took on a festive look from Sunday as Navaratri celebrations peaked with religious fervour

As religious zeal for Navaratri festivities peaked on Sunday, the city took on a festive appearance. Numerous villages observed the festival according to custom. The celebrations include the "Ayudha Puja," "Chandi Homam," and "Bhavani Diksha." People are absorbed in the festivity and joy of the holidays. From Saturday onwards, the beaches, shopping centres, movie theatres, and tourist attractions in and around Visakhapatnam and Araku have been bustling with activity as people come to spend time with their loved ones at their favourite hangouts.

In the meantime, worshippers poured into the city's temples, hoping to obtain the blessings of Goddess Durga. Thousands of worshippers, mostly women, lined up at the temples from sunrise to take the Goddess' blessings. They were clothed in traditional garb.

Devotees have been boarding specially launched boats at the Visakhapatnam port area since the start of the Sarannavaratri festival in order to go to the Yarada Hills and get a darshan of Goddess Durga at the Sagar Durga Temple located on the Yarada Hills inside the municipal boundaries.

Instead of using the road that travels at least 30 miles from the city point at Dwarakanagar bus station, officials have opened the boat service, allowing pilgrims to approach the temple via the two-kilometer water path. Boat services will be offered through Vijaya Dasami (Dasara). On Sunday, worshippers formed a queue in front of the boat ride entry close to the port area's Venkateswara Swamy Temple.