Twice in a year Navaratri is celebrated
in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
This Festival, dedicated to Divine Mother
Durga, takes place in spring and in autumn.
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As every year the Priests have decorated a nice
Durga-Altar. |
A beautiful big Marble-Murti of Durga Maa
is carried by the Priests out of Her “Home” in
Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, and placed for 9 or 10 days
into a Pandal, specially erected and decorated for Her at the
Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.
The Omkarananda Ashram Priests have a lot
of extra work during the Durga-Festival, and so they have to
spend many extra hours for the worship. But all of them really
do their best.
In the morning special Pujas, Prayers and
Arati were done for Durga Maa and in the evening time,
additional powerful Yajnas were conducted.
All days of Navaratri are very special,
but in spite of that, certain days during this Vasant-Navaratri
were marked as special highlights:
First of all this Navaratri-Celebration took place during
Maha-Kumbh in Haridwar, where Millions of people took a holy
bath in the Ganga.
Secondly, from 19th to 21th March 2010,
Omkarananda Ashram had the great honour to host important Swamis
from Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, U.S.A. They actively took
part in the Pujas, Yajna and Arati . (Detailed Report about
their visit, see here)
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Arati by the Chief Priest Suresh and Kumari
Somashekhari |
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Dance Performances by Kumari Somashekhari and
her Students |
On 20th March 2010, after the special
Yajna and Aratis for the Devi were completed, Kumari
Somashekhari gave an Indian Classical Dance Performance - 5
different dance-items in Bharatanatyam and the Temple-Style of
the Northindian Kathak-Dance, alone, and with her students.
These devotional dances were a part of the worship and they took
place in the Temple-Hall, in front of Divine Mother
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.
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Yajna
conducted by Sudhakar Sharma on Vijaya Dashami |
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Purnahuti by Sudhakar Sharma |
Arati by
Sudhakar Sharma |
Another important highlight of this
Navaratri-Celebration was the concluding day, Vijaya-Dashami, on
25th March 2010. It was a matter of great joy for all inmates of
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, that the great and famous
Shri-Vidya Scholar and Shri Vidya Priest, Sudhakar Sharma, from
Chennai, was present and himself conducted the concluding Pujas
and the concluding Hawana with the final Purnahuti. His
beautiful and powerful recitation of the Mantras and his perfect
way of conducting the Pujas, made this event very special for
everyone.
The Navaratri-Celebrations on this very same day were brought to
an auspicious conclusion by the worship of nine Kanyas (small
girls, below age of nine), one small boy as representative of
Lord Shiva and a Suvasini (a married Lady, whose husband is
alive). After Pujas had been done for all of them, they received
very nice gifts and then they could enjoy a delicious Bhandara
(lunch) in the Ashram.
Many devotees and visitors could enjoy
these Navaratri-Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and
obtain the Blessings of Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga.
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Kanya Puja
by Kumari Somashekhari |
Kanya
Bhandara |
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