Geetha Patil
CHICAGO: The Hindu Mandir of Lake County, Grayslake, a Chicago suburb, celebrated the first Chaitra Navaratri Devi Pujan, Kanya Pujan, and Ram Navami after the Pran Pratishta of Lord Ram Lalla at Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi with immense zeal and devotion on Apr 16 and 17, 2024.
Hundreds of devotees from Greater Chicago area attended the program with great enthusiasm and gaiety. The nine-day festivities of Chaitra Navaratri were started with Kalash Stapan, Lord Ganesh and Devi Pujan. Every day Devi Pujan, new Shringaram, Archana, and Aarati were performed with chanting Devi Ashotram with much devotion and fervor. On Ashtami day, little girls were invited and worshipped as the goddess and were offered meals – Poori, Halwa, Chana and gifts.
Kanya Pujan is beautiful festival that celebrates the divinity within young girls and seeks blessings from the Goddess Durga for prosperity, fertility, and protection. It promotes gender equality and respect towards women while highlighting the importance of the ritual.
Chaitra Navaratri Mata Ki Chowki was also performed to fulfill one’s wishes. This Puja ceremony involved the gathering of many worshipers who spent three hours singing hymns in her praise in order to please the Goddess so that she can grant them their wishes.
Dr. Harsha Kumar welcomed the High school students from Lake and Antioch counties to the temple. He provided tour of the temple to the students. Pt. Joshi Ji explained Hinduism to the students and answered their questions.
On Navami, a baby boy was welcomed into the shrine as baby Ram with chanting slogan, ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ Pt. Joshi delivered discourse on the Ram Avatar chapter from Ramayana. After Lord Ganesh Pujan, temple priests namely, Pt. Anil Joshi along with Pt. Balaji Gopal, Pt. Radha Krishna performed Abhishekam/holy bath with Panchamrut and Saffron Milk to the idols of Lord Ram wile chanting Vedic Mantras. Baby Ram was decorated with new dresses and jewelries and placed in the Jhoola.
Archana and Aarati were performed with much devotion. Later, Maha Prasadam was served to all the devotees.
Also Read: Devotees offer prayers on occasion of Ram Navami across country
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