Shree Jalaram Bapa - Shree Lohana Mahajan Dar es Salaam

2 Religious Festivals
NAVRATRI
What is Navratri?
Navaratri or Navaratra is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit Nav
= nine and Ratri = nights. It is celebrated during the period of Sarad Masi Aswin by Hindu lunar calendar, all eight days and nine nights
have its importance and is divided into sets of three days to adore three di_erent aspects of the supreme goddess or goddesses.
1st – 3rd day These days are dedicated to Durga Maa; the Goddess of power and energy. On the first three days, the
goddess is invoked as a powerful spiritual force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects.
4th – 6th day During this period people worship Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity. During the next
three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing
on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth.
7th – 8th day Saraswati Maa is worship during this period, to acquire the spiritual knowledge
9th day On this day Kanya puja is performed, nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped.
The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the daughter of Brahma as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have
all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence, the worship for nine nights.
To celebrate a good harvest and to propitiate the nine planets, women also plant nine different kinds of food
grain seeds in small containers during these nine days and then offer the young saplings to the goddess. During
Navratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property.
A period of introspection and purification, Navratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.
Contributed by Mrs Shruti Mehta - Fernandes
DIPAVALI
Diwali (also spelt Divali in other countries) or Dipavali is popularly known as the Festival of Lights. It is an
important festival in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism, occurring between mid-October and mid-November.
Diwali is an ocial holiday in India, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and
Fiji. The name Diwali is itself a contraction of the word Dipavali (Dipavali), which translates into row of lamps.
Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas) lled with oil to signify the triumph of good over
evil. During Diwali celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with near and dear ones. Some
Indian business communities begin the nancial year on the rst day of Diwali hoping for prosperity the
following year.
In Hinduism, Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya after defeating (the demon
king) Ravana, the ruler of Lanka in the epic Ramayana. It also celebrates the slaying of the demon king
Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Both signify the victory of good over evil. Lakshmi Pujan (also known as Chopra
Pujan) is performed during Diwali, the festival of lights. According to tradition people would put small oil
lamps outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them. It is believed that Lakshmi
(wealth) goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hard working. She does not
visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy.
Bestu Varas is referred to the Hindu New Year according to the Indian calendar based on lunar cycles, and
'Kartak' is the rst month in this New Year while 'Ekam' refers to rst day. People greet each other on this day
by wishing, Saal Mubaarak or Nutanvarsh Abhinandan. Houses are decorated with the aaso palav &
marigolds torans & rangoli at the front door. Home made snacks are oered to the relatives & friends who
come home to give their good wishes.
The LC Spotlight team would like to wish all our community members a very happy Diwali and a prosperous
New Year!
Contributed by Ms Sachi Manek
SHREE ALL WORLD GAYATRI
PARIWAR TANZANIA
Shree All World Gayatri Pariwar Tanzania was
established in 1972 during P.P. Gurudev’s visit to
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The aim and vision of Gayatri Pariwar is to:
a) Activate divinity in all human beings.
b) Create (establish) heavenly atmosphere on our
beautiful planet earth
The main activities of all Pragna Parijans (members)
of all aliated Gayatri Pariwar spread throughout
the world is:
a) UPASNA: Activating latent power within
us by praying regularly to the golden sunrays of the
golden sunrise i.e Gayatri
b) SADHNA: Checking our own progressnding
our own faults, weaknesses, bad habits and
all the shortfalls which hinder us
c) ARADHNA: Follow service oriented
activities and life style making ourselves to be an
important component of our own family & the
society in general.
Gayatri Pariwar adopts the following practical
principles of:
“Hum Sudhrege Yug Sudhrega
Hum Badlenge Yug Badlenga”
It means that if we change the society changes and
when we adopt constructive and positive lifestyles;
the society changes through cumulative constructive and
positive activities.
Gayatri Pariwar is committed to prepare a new
DIVINE GENERATION for Brightful future of 21st
Century through the committed members- of
SHREE ALL WORLD GAYATRI PARIWAR, who will be
responsible, understanding, and dedicated
Gayatri Pariwar is active in around 100 countries
around the world.
Contributed by Mr Kishorebhai Thakrar
“Never walk in the footsteps of others, or you won’t leave any of your own.”