N.Y.-based Guyanese observing Navratri

By Vishnu Bisram
The Hindu festival of Navratri, nine nights of worshipping Mother Durga and her reincarnations, is being observed by the large Guyanese Hindu community in the greater New York area.  The festival began on March 22 and concludes on Saturday March 30.
Temples have been holding Ramayan sessions nightly during the period and many persons have been conducting poojas at their home. Temples throughout the metropolitan area have been packed with devotees throughout the obervances.  The festival concludes with the celebration of Ram Naumi (the appearance of Lord Rama in the world thousands of years ago). It is also observed as a national holiday in India.
Navratri is the worshipping of Goddess Durga and her reincarnations. It is one of the most auspicious times in the Hindu calendar and during this time the feminine aspects of God, worshipped through Goddesses Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati are stressed.  Goddess Durga is the collective manifestation of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).  As such when devotees worship Durga, they are worshipping the other manifestations of God.  People worship for protection, love and comfort and Goddess Durga offers divine protection and removal of diseases.
During Navratri, devotees normally hold special prayers in the mornings and in the evenings to pay obeisance to the universal mother.  It is the mother who provides her children with sustenance and as such she must be propitiated.
During this time worshippers tend to fast for the entire period, avoiding meat, sex, fish, eggs and maintain cleanliness in the homes for almost two weeks. In the mornings, Guyanese Hindus offer jaal or dhar which is a mixture of curd, milk, honey, sugar, neem, cloves, hardi, tills, and other sweet spices.
By Vishnu Bisram
The Hindu festival of Navratri, nine nights of worshipping Mother Durga and her reincarnations, is being observed by the large Guyanese Hindu community in the greater New York area.  The festival began on March 22 and concludes on Saturday March 30.  Temples have been holding Ramayan sessions nightly during the period and many persons have been conducting poojas at their home. Temples throughout the metropolitan area have been packed with devotees throughout the obervances.  The festival concludes with the celebration of Ram Naumi (the appearance of Lord Rama in the world thousands of years ago). It is also observed as a national holiday in India.Navratri is the worshipping of Goddess Durga and her reincarnations. It is one of the most auspicious times in the Hindu calendar and during this time the feminine aspects of God, worshipped through Goddesses Durga, Laxmi and Saraswati are stressed.  Goddess Durga is the collective manifestation of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).  As such when devotees worship Durga, they are worshipping the other manifestations of God.  People worship for protection, love and comfort and Goddess Durga offers divine protection and removal of diseases.During Navratri, devotees normally hold special prayers in the mornings and in the evenings to pay obeisance to the universal mother.  It is the mother who provides her children with sustenance and as such she must be propitiated. During this time worshippers tend to fast for the entire period, avoiding meat, sex, fish, eggs and maintain cleanliness in the homes for almost two weeks. In the mornings, Guyanese Hindus offer jaal or dhar which is a mixture of curd, milk, honey, sugar, neem, cloves, hardi, tills, and other sweet spices.