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Hindu community in CNMI celebrates Durga Pooja
The Hindu community in the CNMI is celebrating the Navarathri and Durga Pooja this October, a time to honor the Hindu goddess Durga.
The five-day celebration, being held at the Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Chalan Kanoa, started last Friday. Pooja Timings for the celebration continues today, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm (Maha Nabami) and on Friday, Oct. 8, from 11am to 11:30pm (Maha Dashomi).
“According to the Hindu belief, the Durga Puja festival marks the battle of Goddess Durga with the powerful buffalo demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the goddess emerging victorious over evil,” Hindu community treasurer Anand R. Katta said in a statement.
The season also coincides with the harvest festival that marks the goddess as the motherly power giving rise to all life and creation.
Celebrated worldwide for 10 days, the first nine nights are spent in the worship of goddess Durga. These nights are known as “Navaratri.”
“Hindus believe it to be a very auspicious day and that if any new venture is started on this day, it is bound to be successful,” Katta said. “Hence, all the undertakings, whether it is laying of foundation of a new building, opening of a new commercial establishment, or even initiating a child into the world of learning, is started on this day.”
In addition, tools related to and symbolizing work and agriculture, including manufacturer’s machines, pen, certain household articles, the children’s school books, are placed before the idol of Durga and worshipped on this day.
The public is invited to join the Hindu community in the celebration.
For more information, contact Tarun Mondal at 783-2436, Tapan Shaha at 287-8273, Sukesh at 287-2924, Noni Sarkar at 285-5858, or Akhil Mollic at 287-3600.
