Devotees gathered at temples and Durga Puja pandals nationwide on Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati saw large crowds, while Latasil marked its 50th puja with a Kedarnath-inspired pandal. In Cuttack, the 500-year-old tradition of silver Chandi Medhas continued, with 38 silver tableaux displayed across the city.