The auspicious nine-day long Navratri festival began on Tuesday, October 13 and Goddess Shailputri is worshiped on the first day. During this festival, devotees observe fast in the name of the deity and sing bhajans while offering prayers to the nine avatars of the goddess of power. Navratri is celebrated to worship nine different forms of Goddess Durga - Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skanda Mata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Maha Gauri and Siddhidatri.