The onset of the Hindu month of Sharad has brought several reasons to celebrate! After a wonderful summer filled with divine celebrations such as the Grand Inauguration, the ecstatic Janmashtami, the joyous Ganesh Chaturthi, and the jubilant Radhashtami, the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas is gearing up for a nine-day, vibrant celebration of the Navaratri.
What is Navaratri?
Navaratri, literally means nine nights. It is celebrated in honor of the divine Mother in Her various forms. From time immemorial, various saints have attempted to describe the beauty and grace of the divine feminine through their various works. In a deeply devotional work called the Ananda Lahari, Shree Shankaracharya celebrates the greatness of the Divine Mother! In one of the verses, he extols Her divine qualities.
विधात्री धर्माणां त्वमसि सकलाम्नायजननी त्वमर्थानां मूलं धनदनमनीयांघ्रिकमले ।
त्वमादिः कामानां जननि कृतकन्दर्पविजये सतां मुक्तेर्बीजं त्वमसि परमब्रह्ममहिषी ॥
“You, who are the source of all Vedas, are also the fountainhead of all Dharma. At your feet, Kubhera, the lord of all riches prostrates with reverence because you have created all the wealth in the Universe. You, who has defeated Manmatha, the God of Love, are the very origin of Love itself. Oh Consort of the supreme Lord, verily you are the very seed of liberation for the devout seekers.”
Out of Her causeless kindness, the divine Mother takes many forms that represent her many moods, to grace us in a multitude of ways. Navaratri is a time when all of Her divine forms are celebrated with devotion and exuberance! As an offering to Her lotus feet, this Navaratri, the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas reverentially presents a rainbow of activities for the Dallas community!
What to expect at Radha Krishna Temple this Navaratri?
In this spectrum of offerings, there is something to look forward to, for every interest type and age group. For the spiritually inclined, there are opportunities to participate in various poojas at this temple of loving devotion, and wonderful treat of soul-stirring, devotional kirtans/bhajans, each day. Those that are rhythmically inclined are certain to rejoice in Garbha and Dandiya, brought to you by Ramzat Raas Garba Band.
The food enthusiasts will be treated to a unique Food Mela. Yugal Kunj, which is the Radha Krishna Temple’s indigenous canteen, will bring you special delicacies from various parts of India. With bounce houses and various games for the young and young at heart, and fun activities such as face painting and Mehendi to enhance the festivities, everyone is ensured of a vivacious Navaratri!
How do I get more details?
May the first Navaratri of the Radha Krishna Temple open up various doorways for one and all to enter the fold of the Divine Mother, which is an abyss of unending love, unconditional forgiveness, and eternal grace! To get more details, or to become a Booth Vendor, or learn how to participate in a Pooja , please visit our Navaratri Event page.
What’s next?
At the Radha Krishna Temple, every moment is perceived as an opportunity to celebrate the grace of the Divine, and every breath is regarded as having the potential to become a prayer! The celebration never ends here, for there is a lot more coming up in October – a weeklong workshop on Path to Happiness conducted by Swami Mukundananda, a grand celebration of Sharad Poornima, and of course, our grand annual Diwali Celebrations, just to name a few!
Apart from special ocassions, Radha Krishna Temple has ongoing weekly activities such as Sunday special satsang followed by Preeti Bhoj lunch prasadam, Bal Mukund classes for children, Toast Masters public speaking classes for the youth, Yoga classes, Language classes and much more!