Devotees visited goddess temples, major ones of which include Sarala Temple, Mangala Temple, BirajaTemple, Cuttack Chandi Temple, Harachandi Temple, Taratarini Temple, Tarini Temple and Samaleswari Temple and paid obeisance to the deities. Special rituals began to be conducted in all these temples to observe the Nabaratri.
It is believed that devotees get ample blessings of Goddess Durga if they pay obeisance to Her on the first day of Nabaratri.
While Nabaratri marks the beginning of Dussehra Puja on the Shukla Pratipada (first day of light fortnight) of the holy month of Ashwina, presiding deities are adorned in nine different Beshas (attires) through nine days till Dashami.
District administrations have also made special arrangements at respective goddess temples for the holy nine-day puja of Goddess Durga.