Chandigarh, Oct 13 (IANS): The nine-day auspicious period of 'Navratras' began on Tuesday amid tight security at major temples across Haryana and Punjab.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar reached the Mata Mansa Devi temple at Panchkula near here on Tuesday morning to offer prayers.

Hundreds of devotees were seen queuing up at this shrine and other temples across Haryana and Punjab to offer prayers.

The auspicious 'Navratra' period will end on Oct 21, culminating with 'Dussehra' festival on October 22.

The Panchkula district administration has again decided not to issue VVIP and VIP passes this time for the Mansa Devi shrine.

Over 10,000 VIP and VVIP passes used to be issued earlier.

Each pass allowed up to four people through the VIP route. The VIPs were also entitled to special drive-in parking closer to the shrine so that they did not have to walk much.

The VVIPs expected this time at the shrine include the governor, chief minister, ministers, lawmakers, judges, senior bureaucrats and police officers and others.

The administration has made arrangements for golf carts to ferry the elderly devotees and physically challenged.