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Navaratri Celebrations
in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas from 4th to 13th April
2011
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| Lord Ganesha for the
smooth protection. |
As every year in spring and in
autumn special decorations were made for the great
festival of Navaratri - the nine days worship for
Goddess Durga. Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple was
looking extremely beautiful with its shining colourful
lights all around. An Altar was specially erected with
Gurudev, Durga and other Deities, who were fully
surrounded with flowers and incense as well as the
necessary Puja items for the coming days.
Daily in the morning elaborate
Pujas were conducted and after Arati everybody could
receive the Prasadam.
Everyday an additional
powerful Yajna - a traditional Vedic ritual - was
performed in the evening, again followed by Arati and
Prasadam.
On 12th April evening after
the Arati, Kumari Somashekhari and her students
performed typical Indian Classical Dances in front of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. Swami Vishveshwarananda
offered thanks to the wonderful dance Artists and also
to all the Priests who worked very hard to make
Navaratri a truly divine function.
As
every Navaratri a nicely decorated Durga along with
Gurudev
and different Deities, full of flowers and lights.
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Purnahuti by Priest Mukesh and
Swami
Vishveshwarananda. |
Prayers by the Priests of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Temple.
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 On the
next day, Vijaya Dashami, after the final Yajna, the
very exciting Kanya Puja took place. Nine small girls
and a married Lady, a Mother of children, were honoured.
Somashekhari blessed all of them with Tilaka, sprinkled
Ganges water, gave each and every one a nice flower mala
and finally all of them received very beautiful gifts.
The Mother, who was a special invitee, was offered a
beautiful Saree. All these offerings were made while the
Priests were chanting the holy Mantras. In the end a
special Bhandara was arranged for the nice Kanyas.
Navaratri was also
simultaneously celebrated in other Temples of
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, like in Omkarananda
Dipeshwar Mandir, Lakshmanjhula, a beautiful Temple
situated directly at the Ganga, next to the famous
Lakshmanjhula Bridge, and also in Omkarananda
Radha-Krishna Mandir, Dehradun Road, Rishikesh.
This Navaratri again - because
a lot of hard work and effort has taken place - was well
organised, very powerful and the eternal Presence of
Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati could be felt by each
and every one.
Kumari Somashekhari and her
students worship Durga Devi with a special Dance
performance.
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Swami
Vishveshwarananda offers Thanks to the Artists
and Priests
and speaks about the importance of Navaratri.
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Swami Vishveshwarananda with
Priests conducting
Yajna. |
Swami Satchidananda and visitors
attending the Arati.
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Kumari Somashekhari
offers wonderful presents
to the 9 Kanyas, applies Tilaka, gives them a
Mala
and worships them as Devis. |
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