New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- Marking the commencement of the nine-day Shardiya Navratri festival, thousands of devotees on Sunday thronged prominent temples across the country from the early hours of the morning to offer prayers and seek divine blessings.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the pilgrimage town of Katra wore a festive look as an influx of pilgrims arrived at the base camp of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Long queues can be seen at the starting point - Darshani Deodi to embark on the uphill trek. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan has been illuminated with elegant lights, creating a divine ambience amid the Trikuta Hills.

A similar wave of devotion was witnessed in Kathua district, where large crowds gathered at the historic Sukrala Mata temp...