Panchkula, Sept. 23 -- Nearly 40,000 devotees thronged the Mata Mansa Devi temple on the first day of the sacred Ashwin Navratri on Monday, filling the shrine with devotion and festive energy as they sought the goddess's blessings. Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, accompanied by his wife, joined the devotees in offering prayers for the peace, prosperity and well-being of the people of Haryana. Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and his wife also paid obeisance at the shrine. The temple has donned a resplendent look for the nine-day festival, with dazzling lights and vibrant decorations. From Singh Dwar to the sanctum sanctorum, the entire complex has been illuminated with colourful lights. This year's decorations also feature pixel and LED lights, creating moving figures of the goddess's many forms, enhancing the spiritual experience. For the devotees' convenience, the administration has made elaborate arrangements for crowd management and medical aid. Panchkula police have also deployed 972 cops to ensure a safe and smooth event. On Day 1 of the festival, devotees collectively offered a total of Rs.28.37 lakh as donations across Mansa Devi Temple (Rs.22.33 lakh), Kali Mata Temple (Rs.6.01 lakh) in Kalka and Chandi Mata Temple (Rs.2,410) in Chandimandir. Mansa Devi Temple also received one gold and eight silver articles.HTC...