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Navaratri-Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
from 28th September 2011 to 6th October 2011
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| Specially erected Altar for Durga Devi
during Navaratri. |
In Omkarananda Ashram the Divine Mother Worship is given special
importance. Besides the daily worship round the year in the
beautiful Omkarananda-Kamakshi Mandir, Omkarananda Shanta-Durga
Mandir and other Temples of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, the
Navaratri-Celebrations in honour of Divine Mother Durga are always
conducted with great care and devotion twice in a year, in spring
and in autumn.
The nine days,
respectively nights, which are specially dedicated to Divine
Mother Durga, symbolize the Victory of the Good and the Divine
over the evil forces. The evil forces are nothing else than the
low and evil characteristics in human beings, like greed, hatred,
lust, violence, etc.
In Omkarananda Ashram
the Divine Mother is worshipped in form of Tripurasundari,
therefore, instead of nine days, or nine nights, ten days are
dedicated to the special Durga-Devi- Festival. The tenth day,
called "Vijayadashami", is dedicated to Vijayalakshmi, who is the
same as Shanta-Durga or Tripurasundari. It is the Devi, who is
always peaceful and victorious. She is the Divine Mother full of
infinite Love, Purity, Beauty, Wisdom, Power, Tenderness and
Compassion.
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| Yajna performed by the Priests of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. |
During Sharadiya Navaratri 2011 (the Navaratri celebrated in
autumn) a beautiful Pandal with the Murti of
Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Devi, a photo of Gurudev Paramahamsa
Omkarananda Saraswati and other Deities, adorned the Yajnashala of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. Special Devi-Pujas and powerful
Hawanas were conducted there daily by the Priests of Omkarananda
Ashram from 28th September 2011 onwards till 6th October 2011.
On Durga-Ashtami, which
took place on 4th October, after a wonderful Hawana and Arati,
devotional dances in worship of the Divine Mother were performed
by Gurubhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari and her students, at the
Yajnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. A lot of devotees
and guests had assembled to witness this event. As soon as the
dances for the Divine Mother began, it suddenly and unexpectedly
started raining heavily. In spite of that, the devotional dances
continued uninterruptedly. The special dance-performance for Devi
was completed with a Devi-Arati Dance, having heart-touching sweet
tunes. The audience responded with great applause.
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| Devi-Dance by Kumari Somashekhari and
students during Navaratri. |
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After that, Shri Swami
Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram,
inspired all devotees and guests with a beautiful speech on the
meaning and importance of the Navaratri-Celebrations. Everybody
very much appreciated Swamiji's speech and a devotee even
spontaneously got up, took the mike, and powerfully expressed his
deep admiration for Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and Omkarananda
Ashram. One could feel, that the feelings of love and adorations,
expressed by this devotee spontaneously, were really genuine and
coming deep from his heart.
Then everybody was
served nice Prasadam by the Omkarananda Ashram Priests. All
devotees and guests left in a happy and spiritually elevated and
inspired mood.
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Another highlight of
the Navaratri-Celebrations was the concluding day, Vijayadashami,
which fell on the 6th October 2011. After a grand Hawana and
Purnahuti, in which Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swami Satchidananda
and Kumari Somashekhari took part, along with the Priests of
Omkarananda Ashram, nine small, cute girls were worshipped as
manifestations of the Divine Mother and given beautiful gifts.
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Gifts made ready for the nine Kanyas. |
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Somashekhari is presenting the
gifts to the Kanyas. |
Somashekhari is blessing the
Kanyas with Arati. |
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