by Mythily Govindan
Navratra …onset of festivals, this time fell between 26 September to 4 October. Mythologically and historically Navratra marks the defeat of the demon Mahishasur by Goddess Durga, proving the triumph of good over evil.
Our Princeton is not an exception to this festive season.Within few hours, one of the parking spaces between 3C and 3B was vacated and covered on all sides by the beautiful silky tent cloth of auspicious red and yellow colour with Goddess Durga seated on the Dias.
Charming,Divine, inspiring and soothing pictures of Mata Durga, Sherawali and Radha—Krishna’s pictures were displayed on the colourful Dias prominently at a higher level enabling visibility even from a distance of 20 to 25 feet.
Ladies and children attired in the best of their clothes matching with the colour of the day, attended the events on all the nine days. It seemed as though countless butterflies flew around the Goddess in their happiest moods.
Graceful Mrs Kamal Gulati with her troupe of people conducted the Navaratri as usual at the pandal most devotedly. Mrs Kamal Gulati’s never ending spirit and strength in describing tiny episodes of the Divine characters in between the bhajans is worth mentioning. She was the captain of the ship during these nine days of the festival. Kashika, Alka, Divya, Suman, Ruchika
Mona, Nidhi and Anjana were some of the prominent volunteers who helped Mrs Gulati to make the festival successful.
The lines of chairs for the elderly inside and outside the pandal and special bright lights around the place added beauty and Divinity to the area.
Ladies and children attired in the best of their clothes matching with the colour of the day, attended the events on all the nine days. It seemed as though countless butterflies flew around the Goddess in their happiest moods. Concluding AARTI is the most important part of the pooja after the devotional songs ( for 3 to 4 hours) every day and everyone was blessed with the Prasad of the Goddess thereafter.
It is essential to mention here that the nine days Navratra is being celebrated for all these nineteen years since the occupants took up their residential possession in the year 2003( except an year during covid19).
Each day the devotees assembled happily inside and outside the pandal greeting each other and worshipping the serene Goddess between 4 30 pm to 8 pm chanting and singing the songs in praise of the supreme Goddess.
People came forward readily sponsoring for prasaad and other activities of each day. On the day of Ashtami, a great Bhandara was arranged to feed the residents and that was the concluding part of the festival.A ray of sadness settled on the faces of all, on the final day thinking about an year long wait for the next Dussehra.
Photographs by Kashika (1B 065 Princeton Estate)
