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Vasant-Navaratri Mahotsava
April 9 to 18, 2005
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
Muni-ki-reti, celebrated Vasant Navaratri Mahotsava
between April 9 to 18, 2005, with full dignity and great
devotion. Six Pandits conducted this celebration
meticulously.
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Swami Vishveshwarananda
performing the Purnahuti |
The auspicious rituals began in
the morning of April 9th at 7 a.m. with Panchanga Pooja
and Kalasha Sthapana, in which the holy Kalasha was
installed with chanting of hymns. It was followed by
Devi Maha-Abhishekam followed by Mandapa-Devata Pooja,
Yantra Pooja, Chandi Pooja and Guru Pooja. The last
ritual of the morning session was Chandi Parayana by the
priests. The morning programme concluded with Arati,
Bhog and distribution of Prasadam.
In the evening, Pooja was
conducted for all Deities. Mahaganapati Hawana was
performed after Agnimukham.
From April 10 to 17, daily in
the morning at 8 a.m. Panchanga Pooja, Devi
Maha-Abhishekam, Yantra Pooja, Durga Saptashati Parayana
were conducted followed by Arati, Bhog and distribution
of Prasadam.
In the evenings, after the
Poojas for all the Deities, a special additional Hawana
was conducted, every day for another Deity, on April 10
a Mahalakshmi Hawana, on April 11 Rudra Hawana, on April
12 Chandi Hawana, on April 13 Durga Hawana, on April 14
Guru Hawana, on April 15 Navavarana Hawana with Lalita-Trishati-Namavali,
on April 16 Devi Hawana with Lalita-Sahasra-Namavali and
on April 17 Ganapati Hawana.
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Km. Somashekhari performs
Omkarananda Arati after the Yajna |
April 18, the concluding day of
the Mahotsava, was celebrated with Sarva Devata Pooja,
Devi Pooja, Agni Mukham, Sarva Devata Hawana, Navavarana
Hawana, Chandi Pooja and Homa, Maha Poornahuti, Kanya
Pooja and Devata Visarjana. The Hawana on this day
lasted for hours and was very powerful. Swami
Vishveshwarananda, Swami Satchidananda, Swami
Narasimhulu, Kumari Somashekhari and others took part in
it. Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of Omkarananda
Ashram, did the grand Purnahuti with greatest devotion.
After completion of the
Purnahuti 9 small girls, or Kanyas, were worshipped as
Goddesses with Puja, Arati, Prasadam etc.
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Kumari Somashekhari offering
presents to the Kanyas |
The nine Kanyas enjoy
the Prasadam |
Great care was taken by the
Ashram to give most beautiful and exquisite gifts to the
9 Kanyas to make them very happy. The gifts were
presented by Kumari Somashekhari.
In the end everybody received
the Prasadam, which was offered as a Bhandara and served
to the participants.
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