Geetha Patil
CHICAGO: Hindu Mandir of Lake county, Grayslake, a Chicago suburb, celebrated Indian New Year,Chaitra Navratri Devi Pujan and Rama Navami in a traditional manner but by following all the COVID-19 instructions and restrictions for the public gatherings. Temple’s priests and management personnel are trying to perform daily and weekly Pujas along with festivals on a low-key basis.
Temple started a nine-day (Apr 13 to 22) Chaitra Navaratri Devi Pujan on Indian New Year’s Day that is April 12 per Chicago Time zone. According to lunisolar Vikram Samvat calendar, it is the year 2078 BS (Bikram Sambat) which is 56.7 years ahead of the solar Gregorian calendar.
There are two main Navaratri’s: Chaitra Navaratri that comes before summer and Ashwin Navaratri coming before winter. The Navaratri festivals honor Goddess Durga and all her forms. Temple Priest, Pandit Anil Joshi performed Devi Abhishekam, Alankaram and chanting Devi Stuti every day and advised devotees to perform the rituals of Kanya Puja at their homes and give respect to those girls as the manifestation of Indian Devis and chant the following Kanya Pujan mantra: Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Kanya Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥
Chaitra Suddha Navami that comes in the Vasantha Rithu (spring season), marks the birth anniversary of Lord Ram was celebrated at the Shubh Muhurat during the Madhyana time (afternoon), on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 that is the Shukla Paksha (bright half) of the Chaitra month along with Lord Ganapati and Maa Devi Pujan. The intent behind this is to celebrate Lord Rama’s birthday on his actual birthday not on the weekends or any convenient day of ours.
After performing the traditional Abhishekam while chanting holy Vedic Maha Mantras, the miniature idol of Lord Rama was dress up with all the beautiful Alankaram and placed Baby Rama in a cradle to mark his birth. Lord Rama was offered with homemade butter and Naivedyam. Pt. Joshi Ji along with all other devotees chanted Slogans in chorus to celebrate Lord Rama’s Birthday: Bhagvan Bhaye Pragat Kripala Dindayala and श्रीराम, जयराम, जयजयराम.
The singing of Rama Stuti and Hanuman Challis created a pious atmosphere in the temple. After Maha Mangalarati, Pt. Joshi Ji blessed everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous life. In his discourse, he said that the descent of Lord Vishnu in his seventh avatar on earth is Lord Rama. He was born to King Dashratha and Queen Kaushalya in Ayodhya in the Tretha Yug.
According to Rama Charita Manas ‘Rama Janma Sukh Mool’ – happiness in life comes only after celebrating Lord Rama Janma. So always follow His principles for being an ideal son, brother, husband, and a leader. This Ram Navami signifies the birth of truth, purity, happiness, and all the things that Lord Rama signifies. Chaitra Navratri and Ram Navami also denote the victory of good over evil spirits.
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