Spiritual victory of Hindus
By Krishna Sijapati
Navaratri is one of the biggest Hindu festivals celebrated all over the world. In this festival, family
members — far and near — gather and enjoy various socio-religious functions for 10 days. Basically, this
festival promotes two important purposes. This is the time all family members, no matter where they are,
come home to be with their family, refresh relationships and enjoy togetherness for 10 days and move
forward to the future.
The main purpose of this festival is the spiritual commitments. Every Hindu household worships nine days
to nine different goddesses to strengthen their positive energy. These goddesses are the manifestations of
Goddess Durga with different names and energies. That is the reason this festival is also called Nava Durga
puja (worships of nine Durgas):
First day worship ... Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge); Second day ... Parbati (Goddess of Motherhood);
Third day ... Gouri (Goddess of Romance); Fourth day ... Rudrani (Goddess of Home Care); Fifth day ...
Radha (Goddess of Pleasure); Sixth day ... Shakti (Goddess of Power); Seventh day ... Ganga (Goddess of
Emotion); Eighth day ... Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth); Ninth day ... Mahakali (Goddess of Destruction of all
evil)
On the 10th day, every household celebrates the victory day, with a cheerful and jovial mood. Goddess
Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in all
creation. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces
such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger and ego.
In a small city like Madison, there are many ethnic organizations that celebrated this festival, although
named differently. The Bengali Association of Madison (in collaboration with the Bengali Cultural Society
of Milwaukee) celebrated this festival as Durga Puja, with a day-long program from early morning to late
night. The program, which was held at the Badger Ridge High School in Verona on Saturday, October 20,
included the elaborate worship of Goddess Durga, Bhajans, dinner and cultural program.
Similarly, the Nepali American Friendship Association celebrated this festival on October 27. The group
held its Dasai or Durga puja celebration at the Shorewood Hill Community Center. People participated
from Madison and surrounding communities. The program was filled with worship of Goddess Durga.
Thereafter, the attendees enjoyed games, dinner, cultural program and open dance at the end.
Participants were as young as three years to as old as 85. People of different ages gathered to celebrate
this festival as a family and community function.
Navaratri is one of the biggest Hindu festivals celebrated all over the world. In this festival, family
members — far and near — gather and enjoy various socio-religious functions for 10 days. Basically, this
festival promotes two important purposes. This is the time all family members, no matter where they are,
come home to be with their family, refresh relationships and enjoy togetherness for 10 days and move
forward to the future.
The main purpose of this festival is the spiritual commitments. Every Hindu household worships nine days
to nine different goddesses to strengthen their positive energy. These goddesses are the manifestations of
Goddess Durga with different names and energies. That is the reason this festival is also called Nava Durga
puja (worships of nine Durgas):
First day worship ... Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge); Second day ... Parbati (Goddess of Motherhood);
Third day ... Gouri (Goddess of Romance); Fourth day ... Rudrani (Goddess of Home Care); Fifth day ...
Radha (Goddess of Pleasure); Sixth day ... Shakti (Goddess of Power); Seventh day ... Ganga (Goddess of
Emotion); Eighth day ... Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth); Ninth day ... Mahakali (Goddess of Destruction of all
evil)
On the 10th day, every household celebrates the victory day, with a cheerful and jovial mood. Goddess
Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in all
creation. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces
such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger and ego.
In a small city like Madison, there are many ethnic organizations that celebrated this festival, although
named differently. The Bengali Association of Madison (in collaboration with the Bengali Cultural Society
of Milwaukee) celebrated this festival as Durga Puja, with a day-long program from early morning to late
night. The program, which was held at the Badger Ridge High School in Verona on Saturday, October 20,
included the elaborate worship of Goddess Durga, Bhajans, dinner and cultural program.
Similarly, the Nepali American Friendship Association celebrated this festival on October 27. The group
held its Dasai or Durga puja celebration at the Shorewood Hill Community Center. People participated
from Madison and surrounding communities. The program was filled with worship of Goddess Durga.
Thereafter, the attendees enjoyed games, dinner, cultural program and open dance at the end.
Participants were as young as three years to as old as 85. People of different ages gathered to celebrate
this festival as a family and community function.
| 10-yr old Shreya Dahal |
| Lalita Pathak and daughter Melody |
| Sharada and Megha Poudel |
| Radha and Krishna Sijapati |