Ritu Maheshwari
India Post News Service
FREMONT, CA: Decked with festive lights, overflowing with the hustle and bustle of festively dressed men, women and children, and reverberating with holy chants, mantras and devotional songs the Fremont Hindu temple was transformed into a festive hub as devotes in Bay area celebrated Navratri as well as Durga Puja festivities.
Chandi Yagna, Ashtami, Navami, Vijayadasami, Mata Ka jagaran, Ravan Dahan, Laksha Kum Kum Archana for Suhagan ladies, Saraswati Puja, and Aksharabhyasa for kids were performed during this period. Aksharabhyasam or Vidyarambham is a traditional religious function in which a child is given initiation for education.
Mata Ka Jagran was a super hit with devotional songs by Harjeet Mehndi and group. With a record number of devotees coming to sponsor the Jagran, devotees stayed up till past 2am in the morning to sing devotional songs. India Post CPRO Vijay Thapar’s birthday was celebrated after 12 midnight during Mata Ka Jagaran.
Dussehra was celebrated with Ravan Dahan, attended by more than one thousand people. Kids learned our culture and watched Ravan Dahan with excitement. Fremont Temple executives Rajesh Verma, Manorama Joshi, Ritu Maheshwari, Veena Birla, Neena Kapoor and Ashok Kapoor
were present and performed the Puja during Ravan Dahan.
Everyday there were free Garba and Dandiya performances. Ladies came in colorful clothes and enjoyed the amazing ambiance and music. Amita Patel and Naresh Patel helped in organizing.
Temple founder Dr. Romesh Japra said “It is heartening to see Indian community come in large numbers to celebrate the festival and observe the rich culture and traditions that unite us and keep us anchored to our heritage”.
Navratri is a multi-day Hindu festival celebrated in the autumn every year. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. In the eastern and northeastern states of India, Durga Puja is synonymous with Navratri, wherein goddess Durga battles and emerges victorious over the buffalo demon to help restore Dharma. In the northern and western states, the festival is synonymous with Rama Lila and Dussehra that celebrates the battle and victory of god Ram over the demon king Ravana.
During the nine days, devotees solemnly fast and worship the nine manifestations or forms of Goddess Durga, also known as Shakti. People came in large numbers to enjoy and participate in the festivities.
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