2024 Autumn (Ashvin) Navratri Festival

Nawan Nagar, October 2024

Every year, the autumn (Ashvin) Navratri festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga, the Divine Cosmic Mother, and her nine divine manifestations. During this period, devotees observe fasting, listen to devotional songs, visit sacred temples of goddesses, and engage in various other devotional practices. This year, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) celebrated the autumn Navratri festival (Ashvin Navratri) at its center in Nawan Nagar from October 3 to 11, 2024.

Preparations

During the Navratri celebration, attendees from various parts of India gathered and stayed at the center, while locals came in masses each evening to join the festivities. VMRK began careful planning and preparations months in advance to accommodate the large crowd and organize a smooth and well run celebration. Multiple large and small tents were set up for various purposes, including hosting the main event, providing accommodation for attendees, food service, and reception. Right through the festival, VMRK provided wholesome vegetarian food to all attendees, and made special arrangements for those who were fasting during the Navratri festival.

As the event drew nearer, attendees started arriving at the center. Convenient transportation services were provided from nearby bus and railway stations, ensuring a hassle-free experience for attendees arriving by public transportation. Security volunteers were stationed along the road adjacent to the event grounds to manage traffic flow. Throughout the event grounds, volunteers were positioned at designated locations with wheelchairs to assist senior citizens and individuals with special needs.

Evening Programs

Each evening, the event premises transformed into a festive atmosphere, illuminated by colorful lights and floral rangoli patterns with vibrant colors. Seven large LED screens and audio equipment were set up to ensure that the event was accessible to all across the event grounds. Some attendees began taking their seats in the afternoon, with the majority arriving in the evening. Those who came early watched the highlights of the previous day’s Navratri celebrations on the big screens before the evening program began. 

Each night, professional singers like Feroz Khan, Sardar Ali, Masha Ali, Mani Ladla, Gagan Mehra, Master Saleem, and Hasmat Sultana performed devotional songs. Sant Baljit Singh Ji arrived shortly after the singing began, bringing overwhelming joy to the attendees. Upon stepping onto the dais, Sant Baljit Singh Ji raised his folded hands and bowed his head to greet the attendees. The attendees reciprocated by bowing their heads with hands folded in respect.

The attendees enjoyed the devotional songs and sang along in the presence of Sant Baljit Singh Ji. They clapped enthusiastically, often raising their hands while doing so. As one devotional song concluded and the next was about to begin, the attendees expressed their happiness by chanting praises of different forms of Goddess Durga. The singing continued past midnight every night.

Towards the end of each evening, Sant Baljit Singh Ji walked among the attendees. As he made his way through the tents, little children eagerly presented him flowers which he happily accepted. Often he gave them a flower in return. Many times, he bowed his head with folded hands as he greeted the little girls. In Indian culture, little girls, below the age of 10 years, are called kanya and are respected as a sign of the Divine Cosmic Mother. Sometimes, Sant Baljit Singh Ji even knelt down to have a conversation with them. The attendees were overjoyed by this gesture as they watched Sant Baljit Singh Ji from closer proximity and witnessed the beautiful exchange.

Celebrating kanya pujan

On Navmi, the ninth day of the festival, Kanya Pujan is celebrated to worship the Divine Cosmic Mother represented in little girls. On October 11, VMRK celebrated Kanya Pujan at all its centers, where little girls arrived dressed in traditional Indian attire. As a mark of respect for the Goddess, the feet of these little girls were first washed and cleaned. They were then offered a special bhog that included puri, halwa, black chana, vegetables, kheer, and fruits. Additionally, the girls were adorned with shringar, featuring sixteen types of adornments.

Ashvin Navratri charitable services

During Navratri, VMRK conducted charitable activities alongside the joyous celebrations and devotional ambiance that cocooned the center in Nawan Nagar. From October 2–12, 2024, VMRK undertook multiple charitable activities that positively impacted the lives of thousands of people. Teams of VMRK volunteers traveled to rural and slum areas of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana to undertake charitable service within a radius of 185 kilometers from the Nawan Nagar center.

Medical and hygiene camps

VMRK organized a medical camp every day at the event grounds. A total of 36 medical professionals were rostered to provide 24-hour service throughout the 11 days. The medical camp included a clinical treatment center separately partitioned into 13 beds and 8 beds for female patients and male patients respectively. The camp was equipped with a nebulizer, an oxygen concentrator. Thousands of patients received free consultations, medicines, and first aid of which more than 80 received in-house medical attention.

Three fully equipped ambulances were on standby for emergency services. One ambulance was stationed adjacent to the medical camp, while the other two were positioned on either side of the main event tent. The ambulances transported referred patients to the nearest hospital from the Nawan Nagar center.

VMRK additionally organized nine medical camps in the slum areas within a 60-kilometer radius of the Nawan Nagar center. Each day, a team consisting of one doctor, one pharmacist, and 7–8 volunteers visited these locations. These camps provided free medical consultation and medicines that benefited more than 1,060 patients.

At these locations, VMRK also distributed over 1,690 hygiene kits to the slum dwellers. Each hygiene kit contained 4 bath soaps, 4 laundry soaps, 3 toothbrushes, 2 tubes of toothpaste, and 1 nail cutter.

One location was so inaccessible that the pickup truck with materials for charitable activity could not traverse the stream to get to the location. Consequently, the team unloaded the items from the truck and carried the heavy materials across the stream on their backs.

Blood donation camp

A 2-day blood donation camp was organized by VMRK at the event grounds on October 6 and 11. It was held in collaboration with the Govt. Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh, and Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh. After undergoing preliminary health check-ups, a total of 145 people successfully donated 145 units (58 liters) of blood.

Educational material distribution

VMRK also organized a charitable activity focused on educational support for students from underprivileged sections of society. VMRK coordinated with 49 schools and noted their needs. At some schools, students either brought worn out bags to school or carried notebooks and textbooks in polythene bags.

Based on the requirements, VMRK procured and donated school bags, stationery kits, water bottles, sweaters, and shoes to the schools. Schools in Himachal Pradesh were located at altitudes rising as high as 2,495 meters. In some areas, the paths were too narrow for vehicles to traverse. VMRK volunteers had to trek up to 2.5 kilometers along steep, narrow routes, carrying the charitable items on their backs. Over 2,680 students received these distributed materials with joy.