Hyderabad, March 19 -- Devotees visited temples across southern states on the occasion of Ugadi, marking the Telugu and Kannada New Year.

In Hyderabad, devotees thronged the Hanuman temple in Chikkadpalli to offer prayers.

In Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, devotees gathered at Vaikundapathi Perumal Temple, where rituals began early on Thursday with Gomatha Pooja.

In Bengaluru, Karnataka, worshippers offered prayers at Kaadu Malleshwara Temple.

Meanwhile, marking the first day of Chaitra Navratri, devotees across the country visited temples on Thursday in large numbers to seek blessings and begin the auspicious festival with devotion. The occasion was celebrated with great faith as people observed rituals and prayers from early morning.

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