Virtual Navaratri Events

Navaratri will be celebrated virtually from Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 25. Times indicated are in Pacific time. 
The live programs will be live streamed from the MA Center San Ramon YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/c/macentersanramon. Subscribing to the channel is recommended.

The word Navaratri means 'nine nights' in Sanskrit. During these nine nights, three nights each are devoted to honoring Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Each night, a puja ceremony will be performed by a devotee, along with group chanting and bhajans (devotional singing), led by Swami Dayamritananda Puri.

SCHEDULE

DURGA PUJA:
•  Friday, October 16, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati
•  Saturday, October 17, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati
•  Sunday, October 18, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati

LAKSHMI PUJA:
•  Monday, October 19, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati
•  Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati
•  Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 pm Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati

SARASWATI PUJA:
• Thursday, October 22, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati
•  Friday, October 23, 6:00 pm, Puja, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati
   Books, tools and implements of work and study, and instruments can be placed by your home altar.
•  Saturday, October 24, 6:00 pm, Vedic *Saraswati Puja by Pujarini Meera, Chanting, Bhajans & Arati. See more >>

• Chants for the Navratri programs :
  1. Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Strotram 
  2. All other Chants
• Online bhajan lyrics are available with a subscription at: https://sing.withamma.com/

VIJAYADASHAMI PUJA:
Sunday, October 25, 9:30 am led by Swami Dayamritananda Puri.
The final puja, on the tenth day after the nine nights of observance. Items offered for blessings on the 8th day of Navaratri will be ready to be returned to use. See more >>

*SPECIAL SARASWATI PUJA:
On the ninth and final night, Saturday October 24, a Vedic Saraswati Puja, dedicated to Goddess of Knowledge, will be performed by Pujarini Meera. All are welcome to attend; preregistration is not required. In addition, registration is available for a sankalpa (special intention) to be made during the puja on your behalf, or for a loved one - $65 per individual. To register, please click HERE>>

The ninth day is also the day of the Ayudha Puja, which honors whatever implements one may use in one’s livelihood or education. On the preceding evening, it is traditional to place these implements at an altar. Children traditionally place their study books and writing implements on the altar. The significance being that if we can make a conscious effort to see the divine in the tools and objects we use each day, it will help us to see our work as an offering to God.

The tenth day after the nine nights of pujas, is Vijayadashami or 'tenth day of victory'. In this case, 'Vijaya' does not mean 'victory' in the ordinary sense. It means breaking the shackles and the limitations of the mind and attaining complete and total freedom. Traditionally, it is an auspicious time for starting new ventures. The Vijayadashami Puja will be performed on Sunday, October 25 at 9:30 am by Swami Dayamritananda Puri. Please click here for more information.

Read more about Navaratri here >>

Please contact the MA Center, San Ramon Events team if you have any questions - macsrevents@ammagroups.org