Navaratri Celebrations at MA Center Chicago

NAVARATRI CELEBRATIONS AT MACC

Navratri is a nine-day festival, rich in meaning, focused on the different forms of the Goddess. At one level, Navaratri signifies the progress of a spiritual aspirant. During the spiritual journey, an aspirant has to pass through three stages personified by Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Then, the aspirant enters into the realm of the infinite, wherein one realizes one's true Self. Navaratri, which literally means 'nine nights,' dedicates three days each to worship of the Divine in the forms of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The tenth day is actually the most important day. It is known as Vijayadashami, the tenth day of victory. Navaratri, or the nine nights of Devi, will be celebrated at MA Center Chicago Sunday, Sept. 29th through Tuesday, Oct. 8th (note specific dates and times below). 

Sunday Sept 29, Monday, Sept. 30th, Tuesday, Oct. 1st:                    
Daily Evening Program:
6:30-7:00 pm – White Flower Meditation
7:00-8:00 pm - Durga Ashtotharam and Durga Bhajans

Wednesday, Oct. 2nd, Thursday, Oct. 3rd, and Friday, Oct. 4th:     
Daily Evening Program:
6:30-7:00 pm – White Flower Meditation
7:00-8:00 pm - Lakshmi Ashtotharam and Lakshmi Bhajans

Special Navaratri Satsang Saturday, Oct. 5th:

4:00-5:00 pm – Archana
5:00-5:45 pm – Satsang Talk - Navaratri, Jewish Holy Days, and Vedanta
5:45-6:45 pm - Bhajans
6:45-7:15 pm - Arati, Meditation and Prasad
7:15-7:45 pm – Garba Dance*

*No experience needed; men and women can simply join in. Dandiya sticks will be provided. Garba dance is a Gujarati folk dance celebrated during Navratri in celebration of the divine feminine aspect. Both men and women usually wear colorful costumes while performing garba dance.

Sunday Oct. 6th & Monday, Oct. 7th:            
Daily Evening Program:
6:30-7:00 pm – White Flower Meditation
7:00-8:00 pm - Saraswati Ashtotharam and Bhajans

Monday Oct. 7th: Ayudha Puja

Bring a tool (eyeglasses, paintbrushes, a pen, a camera, etc), or a musical instrument you are studying, or a book you wish to gain wisdom from and place it on the altar to invoke the blessings of Saraswati (please wrap in paper and write your name on the outside). You can retrieve the item and start afresh from the next day, the 10th day which is considered as 'Vijayadasami'. You may bring your item earlier than Monday if more convenient. 

Tuesday, Oct. 8th:
8:00-9:00 am - Vijayadashami* led by Swamiji

*Vijaya Dashami means victory on the 10th day. On this day, we celebrate the victory of good over evil and of one's higher nature over one's mundane indriyas (senses). Vijayadasami is known also as Dussehra or Dasara and marks the culmination of the nine-nights-long festival of Navaratri. The root sentiment of Vijaya Dashmi is victory; of good over evil and of self over one's mundane indriyas (senses). The scriptures advise us to attain victory over the mind. One who has not conquered the mind has not conquered anything at all. Swamiji will conduct a special puja in the morning and return the tools blessed at the altar. 

The significance of each stage of worship parallels the different stages of sadhana (spiritual practices): first, negative tendencies need to be controlled; second, virtues need to be ingrained; third, after gaining the necessary mental purity, spiritual knowledge needs to be acquired. Only then will the spiritual aspirant attain spiritual illumination.

Navaratri is not only important for spiritual aspirants; it has a message for those who lead a worldly life as well. They should invoke Durga's help to surmount obstacles, pray to Lakshmi to bestow peace and prosperity, and contemplate upon Saraswati in order to gain knowledge. Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati are not different entities, but different facets of the singular Divinity.