POLOKWANE – The Hindu community of Polokwane recently came together at the Shree Gita Mandir (temple) in Nirvana, to celebrate Navratri, one of the most joyous festivals of the year.

Community leader Kavita Dullabh explained that Navratri, meaning ‘nine nights’, is dedicated to the worship of the various forms of Goddess Durga.

“Navratri is much more than nine nights of celebration. It is a time of devotion, reflection and community spirit, as devotees come together to honour Goddess Durga, the Divine Mother.

“Goddess Durga is the symbol of strength, courage, protection, grounding, purity and serenity,” Dullabh said.

A celebration of devotion and reflection

The celebrations at Shree Gita Mandir created a special space where people prayed together, celebrated together and shared the joy of the beautiful Hindu traditions. The community prayed for blessings for, peace, happiness, prosperity, good health and strength to overcome challenges and each night provided the devotees with an opportunity to offer their prayers, seek blessings and reflect on the values that the Divine Mother represents.

According to Dullabh, the festival reminds of the eternal victory of good over evil and righteousness over negativity. One is encouraged to find strength within themselves and to face life’s challenges with faith and courage, Dullabh mentioned.

One of the most anticipated aspects of Navratri is the lively celebration of the traditional dance of Garba and Dandiya Raas. The Mandir came alive with beautiful colourful traditional clothing, joyful singing and the infectious energetic movements of devotees performing garba together around the sacred lamp. From the youngest children taking their first steps in Garba to grandparents joining in the celebrations, Navratri brought generations together.

Prominent member of the community, Jyoti Mistry mentioned that Garba, a traditional dance form is actually the oldest and most powerful “energy circuit” of the Sanatan tradition. Garba is always performed in a circle. The planets in the solar system revolve around the sun and that our galaxy itself rotates like a maze. That circular circle of Garba represents the time-loop of life, namely the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The lamp and the power of the Divine Mother at the center remain absolutely stable.

This means that no matter how rapidly the world changes, the center and core of your life must always remain stable and unwavering, Mistry explained.

Passing traditions to younger generations

Navratri also provided an important opportunity for the younger generation to connect with their Hindu heritage. Through prayers, stories, music, dance, speech and participation in community celebrations, children learn about the traditions and values that have been lovingly passed down through generations, Mistry added.

For Mistry, it is truly rewarding to sacrifice her time for the community, especially when the children show interest in learning about the Hindu traditions.