UP Government to Hold Durga Saptashati Recitations at Temples During Navratri

The state government's Mission Shakti initiative is organising the programmes. They will feature traditional devotional songs dedicated to Goddess Durga and recitations of the Durga Saptashati, a sacred text associated with the worship of Shakti, or divine feminine power.

Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said Sharadiya Navratri represented faith, Shakti and India's cultural traditions. He said the government intended to use religious gatherings to promote social awareness, particularly concerning the safety, dignity and empowerment of women and girls.

Singh added that the programmes would also give local artists an opportunity to showcase their talent, with women performers expected to form a significant proportion of the participants.

Under the initiative, three local artists will perform at each participating temple. The programme will cover 26 temples, creating performance opportunities for artists while promoting traditional devotional music and folk culture.

In Lucknow, performances will be held at Chandrika Devi Temple and Sankata Devi Temple. In Prayagraj, Alopi Devi Temple and Lalita Devi Temple will host the programmes, with three artists scheduled to perform at each location.

The remaining 22 temples will also feature three local artists each. The initiative is expected to provide livelihood opportunities to performers while encouraging the preservation of regional cultural traditions.

Other prominent temples included in the programme are Maa Vindhyavasini Devi Temple in Mirzapur, Vishalakshi Temple in Varanasi, Jwala Devi Temple in Sonbhadra, Katyayani Devi Temple in Mathura, Maa Shitala Chaukiya Dham in Jaunpur, Belha Devi Temple in Pratapgarh, Mahalakshmi Devi Temple in Varanasi and Chamunda Devi Temple in Firozabad.

The three-day programme, running from Saptami through Navami, is intended to combine devotional observances with cultural participation and the government's stated focus on women's safety, dignity and self-reliance.