BAVINA SOOKDEO
The Hindu community will celebrate Navratri, a sacred period dedicated to the worship of the
devi, the female divine energy, from March 29.
Pundit Lutchmidath Persad Maharaj explained the significance of Navratri and the deeply symbolic Kanya Kumari Puja which is a part of the worship done within this period.
Persad Maharaj, 51, of Todd’s Road, Chaguanas, is a practising pundit for over 35 years and served for 30 years on the executive of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha. He is a former vice president to the Inter-religious Organisation.
Navaratri refers to a period of nine lunar days or nine nights. “This period is dedicated to the worship of the female form/the female concept or the female iconography of that divine, universal supreme that we refer to as God,” Persad Maharaj said in an interview with Newsday.
He said there are two Navratris observed annually: Chaitra Navratri in March-April and Sharad Navratri, which usually precedes Divali, in August, September or October.
“The Hindu year begins on the first day of the Navaratri and so, as per Hindu tradition and theology, Hindus are given nine days in which we begin the Hindu New Year with fasting, maintaining discipline and by performing rituals and pujas.”
Navratri is divided into three phases of three days each, with each segment dedicated to a different manifestation of the goddess.
“The first three days of the Navaratri, devotees focus on the worship of the Goddess Mother in her form as Durga Mata.
“Durga is believed to be the Goddess who protects, destroys evils, guards and safeguards her children against the many negative and destructive forces of the world. Puja (prayer ceremony) is performed and worship is done to her, seeking guidance, safety and security in going forward, in ensuring that the year brings every opportunity for providing safety, security and protection against all calamities, misfortunes and disasters.”
[caption id="attachment_1146829" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Pundit Lutchmidath Persad Maharaj -[/caption]
For the second three days of Navratri, the Goddess Mother is worshipped in the principle of Lakshmi or the goddess of wealth and good fortune.
“Goddess Lakshmi is one of the most popular icons of the female form of God and so devotees pray to her during the second three days of the Navaratri for a progressive, positive, powerful and prosperous year ahead.”
On the last three days of Navratri, the goddess is worshipped in the icon of Mother Saraswati, for those seeking wisdom and intellectual prowess.
“Many persons pursuing academia, in particular children who are attending schools and universities, would capitalise on the last three days of Navratri, focusing their devotion and worship to this form of the mother that inspires intellectual prowess and allows for the ability to be focused, disciplined and achieve success in all fields of education, music and the arts.”
Significance of Kanya Kumari Puja
A pivotal feature in the worship of the goddess during Navratri is the Kanya Kumar
