Navratri festival, the most pious period for worshipping Devi Durga by the Hindus, begins today. In Jammu & Kashmir, hundreds of devotees offered morning “Aarti” at the world famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, with religious fervour and enthusiasm today. Early this morning, a Havan started at the Holy cave shrine, which will continue till the Navratras are over.Our correspondent reports that nestling in Trikuta hills in the Himalayas, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine presents a festive look as thousands of devotees are pouring in from across the country to undertake a pilgrimage to the shrine during the Navratra festival. On the first day of Navrata about forty thousand pilgrims have so far paid their obeisance at the Holy cave Shrine. Meanwhile at Base Camp Katra, temporary stalls are set up by the road side, near the temples selling traditional goods for the festival such as diyas, coconuts and dupattas, wrist-bands and special garlands made of marigold and other flowers with agarbatti sticks.