Kangra, 11 October (H.S.):

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina visited the renowned Maa Baglamukhi Temple in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, with his family on Sunday, the first day of Sharad Navratri. He offered prayers to the goddess and sought blessings for his family’s happiness, prosperity and good health.

Speaking to the media before offering prayers, Raina said that he had visited the temple with his mother and sister to mark the beginning of Navratri. He explained that the occasion held special significance for him because his mother is from Himachal Pradesh.

“Today is the first day of Navratri, and I have come here with my mother and sister. My mother is from Himachal Pradesh, which makes this day particularly special for me. I pray to Maa Rani that everyone remains happy and healthy, that we continue to receive our parents’ blessings, and that the goddess’s grace remains upon everyone,” Raina said.

Raina also shared photographs from his temple visit on Instagram, accompanied by a devotional message.

“Om Shri Bagalamukhyai Namah. I feel blessed to have had the divine darshan of Maa Baglamukhi on the first day of Navratri. May the Mother Goddess’s blessings remain upon everyone. Heartfelt wishes to all on Navratri. May Maa Baglamukhi’s grace bring strength, peace, happiness, prosperity and well-being into everyone’s lives,” he wrote.

Sharad Navratri began on Sunday. The nine-day Hindu festival is dedicated to the worship of the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga. On the first day, devotees worship Maa Shailputri. The nine forms revered during the festival are Maa Shailputri, Maa Brahmacharini, Maa Chandraghanta, Maa Kushmanda, Maa Skandamata, Maa Katyayani, Maa Kalaratri, Maa Mahagauri and Maa Siddhidatri.

Throughout the festival, devotees observe fasts and offer prayers to Goddess Durga, seeking happiness, peace, prosperity and good health.

Raina has had a distinguished career representing India in international cricket. He played 18 Test matches, 226 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 78 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for the country. During his international career, he scored 768 runs in Test cricket, including one century, and 5,615 runs in ODIs, including five centuries. He also amassed 1,605 runs in T20 internationals.

Raina was a member of the Indian team that won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also enjoyed considerable success in the Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring 5,528 runs in 205 matches.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar