Kakinada:The Dasara Navaratri festival began in a grand manner with devotional fervour in five Godavari districts -- Kakinada, Eluru, Konaseema, the East and West districts. Devotees thronged the two Ashtadasa peethams at the Manikyamba temple of Draksharamam in Konaseema district and the Puruhuthika temple at Pithapuram in Kakinada district. In Rajamahendravaram, the Sri Devi Utsava committee made arrangements for special kumkum poojas and mythological plays. In the Ayyappa Swamy temple in Kakinada, Gou Pooja, Shiva Abhishekam, Chandi Homam etc were performed. The temples were illuminated with lights and goddesses have given darshan to the devotees in the form of various Avatars.