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The nicely decorated Altar for
Durga Devi. |
The Navaratri Celebrations are
celebrated two times in a year in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
in spring and in autumn.
The Navaratri Festival is dedicated to
the Divine Mother, celebrating the Victory of the Good, Noble
and Divine over the evil forces.
The Navaratri Celebrations in spring
season of this year, commenced on the auspicious day of the
start of the new Hindu Year, on Friday, 23rd March 2012.
According to the North Indian Hindu
Calendar, this new Year is called "Vishvavasu" and is
ruled mainly by Shukra, the planet Venus.
The Priests of Omkarananda Ashram
started the powerful and devoted Celebrations for Durga Devi in
the morning of 23rd March 2012, in the Yajnashala of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
A beautifully decorated Altar for Durga
Devi had been installed there, and daily special Prayers, Pujas,
Aratis and extra Hawanas were performed at this place, which
continued up to the conclusion of the Navaratri Festival, on 2nd
April 2012.
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Yajnas performed by the Priests
of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
along with Swami Vishveshwarananda. |
Purnahuti by
Swami Vishveshwarananda. |
On 30th March 2012 evening, after Hawana
and Purnahuti, Kumari Somashekhari gave a special Dance
Performance in the Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
Mandir.
A lot of devotees from India and abroad
had assembled there. Among them was also a group consisting of
Yoga-students from Europe.
Somashekhari performed three dances,
which were all dedicated to the Divine Mother. One among them
was a Bharatanatyam Dance, "Simhasana-Sthite", which is
a composition of the great South Indian Musician-Saint
Muthuswami Dikshitar, describing the Greatness, immense Beauty
and Power of the Divine Mother.
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After Yajna
Arati is performed by Kumari Somashekhari. |
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Dance
performance by Kumari Somashekhari dedicated to the
Divine Mother. |
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Bharatanatyam Dance "Simhasana-Sthite" by
Kumari Somashekhari. |
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After Somashekhari had completed her
devotional dances, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, gave a very
heart-touching and inspiring speech, in which he beautifully
explained the origin and purpose of sacred Temple-Dances.
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Swami Vishveshwarananda
highlights the importance of Navaratri and Temple-Dance. |
The audience, who joined the
prayers
after the devotional dance performance. |
Again on the next day, on 31st March
2012, Kumari Somashekhari performed different Temple-Dances,
starting with the traditional Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance Item,
"Ganesha Kautuvam". She danced in the Temple-Hall, in
front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.
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On
31.3.2012 Kumari Somashekhari
starts her Temple-Dance Performance with Bharatanatyam
"Ganesha Kautuvam". |
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Yogacharya Swami Sudhirananda is
honouring Swami Vishveshwarananda
and expresses his joy over the function. |
After the devotional Dance-performances,
again, like on the day before, Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji
blessed all devotees, who had assembled in large numbers, with
his inspiring words of Divine Wisdom.
Before leaving, all devotees could enjoy
a special Temple Prasadam.
On 2nd April 2012, Vijaya Dashami, was
the crowning conclusion of the Vasant Navaratri Celebrations in
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, with a grand Hawana, final
Purnahuti, elaborate Pujas and then the eagerly awaited Kanya
Puja, where 9 small cute girls, below the age of nine, were
worshipped and given beautiful gifts.
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Durga Devi
with all the glitter and shine
on the closing day of the great Navaratri. |
Yajna by the Priests of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
with Swami Vishveshwarananda. |
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Powerful Purnahuti by Swamiji
and the Priests. |
Mukesh Panditji is offering
Arati to Goddess Durga. |
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Kumari Somashekhari is blessing the
nine Kanyas and offering them beautiful gifts. |
A visibly happy child in another world. |
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Swami
Vishveshwarananda offers Arati to the nine Kanyas. |
Special
Bhandara arranged for the divine kids. |
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Swami
Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari along with
Priests, Parents and Guests behind the cute Kanyas. |
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