Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Kali Mandir and Shiva Temple in Chittaranjan Park (CR Park), South Delhi, on Tuesday to participate in Durga Puja celebrations on the auspicious occasion of Ashtami. The event, part of the nine-day Navratri festival honouring Goddess Durga, underscores Modi's engagement with cultural traditions amid heightened festivities across India. Navratri, which began on September 22, 2025, culminates in Dussehra on October 2, drawing millions to pandals nationwide for rituals, dances, and community gatherings.
The CR Park Durga Puja, a hallmark of Delhi's Bengali diaspora, transforms the neighbourhood into a vibrant cultural hub each year. Established in the 1970s, the Kali Mandir complex serves as a spiritual centre for the community, hosting elaborate pandals, traditional performances like dhunuchi naach, and sacred rituals that attract thousands from the Delhi-NCR region.
Modi's presence is viewed as a symbol of national unity and respect for the festival's heritage, which originated in eastern India but has evolved into a pan-Indian celebration blending devotion and festivity. Past visits by the prime minister to similar events have highlighted the government's emphasis on preserving cultural diversity.
Security measures have been intensified ahead of the visit. A Special Protection Group (SPG) team conducted a thorough assessment of the site on Monday, September 29. Residents along key access roads have been asked to clear parked vehicles, while local vendors and hawkers must temporarily relocate to facilitate crowd management. These protocols aim to balance the event's scale with safety, given the expected influx of devotees during peak Navratri hours.
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The Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory anticipating heavy congestion around CR Park until October 2. Affected routes include the Outer Ring Road between Panchsheel and Greater Kailash, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, JB Tito Marg, Inder Mohan Bhardwaj Marg, and CR Park Main Road. Restrictions will apply on Gurudwara Road, Bipin Chandra Pal Marg, and internal roads in CR Park and Greater Kailash-II, with diversions at Panchsheel, IIT, and Nehru Place flyovers.
Light and heavy goods vehicles will be rerouted, and commuters are urged to opt for alternatives like MG Road, Aurobindo Marg, Mathura Road, Lala Lajpat Rai Road, or Mehrauli-Badarpur Road to minimise delays.
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