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OCTOBER 1, <strong>2018</strong><br />
22 Entertainmentlink/Classifiedlink<br />
North Shore<strong>Indian</strong>s plan Navaratri Festival<br />
Venkat Raman<br />
Aucklanders in general and<br />
residents of North Shore<br />
and beyond inparticular,<br />
will have an opportunity<br />
to watch Navaratri celebrations and<br />
perhapsparticipate in the proceedings<br />
as a two-day festival getsahead<br />
later month.<br />
North Shore <strong>Indian</strong> Association is<br />
organising the Festival on<strong>October</strong><br />
12 and <strong>October</strong> 13, <strong>2018</strong>atthe North<br />
Shore Event Centre, Silverfield, Off<br />
Porana Road in Glenfield.<br />
Association Treasurer Mayank<br />
Patel said that the Festival, ninth in<br />
an annual series, brings together<br />
not only Hindu women and families<br />
but also people from otherethnic<br />
groups.<br />
Invoking Blessings of Durga<br />
“DuringNavaratri, we invokethe<br />
energy aspect ofGod in the formof<br />
the Universal Mother, commonly referred<br />
as‘Durga.’ The name means<br />
‘RemoverofMiseries of Life.’ She is<br />
alsoreferred to as ‘Devi’ (Goddess)<br />
or ‘Shakti’(Energy or Power),”he<br />
said.<br />
Mr Patel said that this energy<br />
helps Godtocreateand protect the<br />
Universe and destroy evil.<br />
“It can be said that God ismotionless,<br />
absolutely changeless,<br />
and the Divine Mother Durga,does<br />
everything.Our worship of Shakti<br />
re-confirms the scientifictheory that<br />
energy isimperishable. It cannot be<br />
created or destroyed,”hesaid.<br />
Adhi Parashakthi also Known asGoddess Durga<br />
Mr Patel said that the two-day Festival<br />
is being supportedbyanumber of commercial<br />
organisations and volunteers.<br />
“We thank them for their patronage.<br />
Visitors to the two-day Festival will have<br />
access tofree parking of their vehicles,”<br />
he said.<br />
“North Shore <strong>Indian</strong> Associationisa<br />
not-for-profit organisation dedicated to<br />
community services.Wekeep alive our<br />
great <strong>Indian</strong>culture and tradition and<br />
teach our children the intrinsictraditionalvalues<br />
and our Heritage,” Mr Patel<br />
added.<br />
Extolling the Power of Women<br />
Hindu womenmark nine nights to<br />
worship Goddess Shakti or Durga once<br />
ayear, preceding Diwali. Also known as<br />
‘Dassera,’ thenine nightsare spentin<br />
dancing, prayer and companionship, emphasisingthe<br />
importance of<br />
womanhood.<br />
The killing of ademon bya<br />
Deity is not mere physical annihilation,<br />
butliberation, amanifestation<br />
of divinegrace.<br />
Rama liberated Ravana, and<br />
Krishna did the same with the<br />
vile Kansa.<br />
This is however the maximum<br />
theycould give to the<br />
villains.<br />
Thesedemons were rarely<br />
showninany of the worshipped<br />
images.<br />
Compassionate Durga<br />
It is onlythe supremelycompassionate<br />
Goddess Durga who<br />
gives space in Her imagetothe<br />
principal demonshe killed,<br />
thus ensuring that hetoo is<br />
worshipped along withHer.<br />
If this is the grace that the<br />
Goddess showers on avillain,<br />
then, canthere be ameasure<br />
of the blessings She bestowson<br />
her loving devotees.<br />
The Navaratri (nine nights)<br />
Festival is acelebration of this<br />
Great Goddess, in which the<br />
actual worship is divided into<br />
three parts, where Sheisworshipped<br />
in her three essential<br />
forms.<br />
The two principal scriptures<br />
of the Goddess –The<br />
Devi Mahatmya and the Devi<br />
Bhagavad Purana,highlight<br />
these aspects with highly instructive<br />
and symbolicstories.<br />
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