Haridwar, March 27 -- The pilgrim city of Haridwar witnessed a wave of devotion and religious fervour on Thursday as devotees celebrated Ram Navami across the district with traditional rituals, prayers and temple visits. The festival, which marks the birth of Lord Rama, coincided with the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, when devotees worship Maa Siddhidatri, the ninth incarnation of Goddess Durga. From the early hours of the morning, devotees thronged Brahm Kund, Har Ki Pauri, and other ghats along the Ganga to take a holy dip and perform religious rituals. Major temples across the city also witnessed heavy footfall throughout the day. Devotees offered prayers at prominent shrines including Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple, Anjana Devi Temple, Dakshin Kali Temple, Maya Devi Temple, Sureshwari Devi Temple, and Daksh Mahadev Temple in Kankhal, besides several other temples in the district. Large numbers of devotees also visited shrines dedicated to Mata Vaishno Devi and Mata Shakumbari Devi to offer prayers on the occasion. Many devotees concluded their fasting rituals on Durga Ashtami on Thursday, while others will complete the nine-day Navratri fast on Friday morning after performing traditional rituals and offering food to young girls as part of the kanya pujan ceremony. Special prayers and religious programmes were organised at temples dedicated to Lord Rama across the city. Devotees participated in bhajan singing and recitations of Ram Katha at temples and households. Large gatherings were also seen at Shri Ram Mandir, Shri Tulsi Manas Mandir in Bhoopatwala, and temples located in Saptsarovar, BHEL Township Haridwar, Jwalapur, and Mahadev Temple Kankhal, among other places. Authorities said adequate arrangements were made at major temples and ghats to manage the large number of devotees visiting the city on the festival....