Guest guest Posted September 27, 2004 Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (USA) - Sept. 27, 2004: Instruments, laptops and music textbooks were blessed on Sunday at the Saraswati Puja Ceremony in the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. The Hindu ceremony was held as part of the Navaratri Festival, which was held at the campus from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The festival is a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga. During the festival in India people greet family and friends, enjoy music and dance concerts. And on the ninth day of the festival, Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, is worshipped. T. Viswanathan, who taught at the university since 1975 and died in 2002, developed the festival. Viswanathan was remembered during the Saraswati Puja Ceremony which celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of new endeavors. Dr. A. V. Srinivasan, from the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, led the ceremony. He has been coming to the university for the past 10 years to conduct it. "We've been associated with music program since the 1960s," Srinivasan said. Obstacles were removed by praying to the God, Mahaganapati. It is a common Hindu belief that a prayer must be offered to the God for his blessing so that the rest of the mission proceeds without incident. After the prayer was given, the cleansing was started with water that was poured into a metallic vessel. Srinivasan and Joseph Getter, who was also leading the ceremony, symbolically washed their hands with the water. Saraswati was then prayed to and given offerings. Sweet drink, water, incense a clean piece of cloth, flower petals, change and fruits and vegetables were offered. Just before the ceremony's end, the participants stood up and turned to their right three times to absolve their sins. The instruments, textbooks and laptops were laid out on the floor next to the altar. The gold and green altar to which they prayed had icons of Ganesh, Durga and Saraswati. "Offerings are going to be made to their image on this occasion," Kamla Srinivasan, wife of A.V. Srinivasan, said as she prepared the altar Getter, who is working on his doctorate in Indian music, said after the ceremony that he enjoys the Saraswati Puja Ceremony because he believes he might get a blessing from the deities and he finds it interesting. He wants to learn more about it, he said. The university also invites professional musicians from India to play and speak with the students during the Navaratri Festival. Indian food is also served during the festival. "To hear a concert by a leading artist is an incredible experience," Getter said. Balasubrahmaniyan, who has been teaching South Indian Karnatak Music at the university for one year, said he's been enjoying himself. "It gives me so much pleasure to be here," Balasubrahmaniyan said. SOURCE: Festival ends with learning and wisdom By JOSH MROZINSKI , Middletown Press Staff URL: http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13012252&BRD=1645&PAG=461&de\ pt_id=10856&rfi=6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 The Lunar Hindu Calendar published by The Flushing Hindu Temple gives the dates of Durga Navaratri in 2004 as Oct 13 until Oct 21. The last three days (Oct 19th, 20th, and 21st of 2004) are sacred to Saraswati. Lunar Calendars are tricky. It sounds like someone in Wesleyan forgot that last year has an addition 13th month (as Lunar calendars often do), which pushed festivals about a month later this year. But this means Shakti sadhana readers can celebrate another Saraswati Puja in a few weeks! <Ya brahma achutya shankara prabritibhir/ Devai sada pujita/ Sa mam patu saraswati bhagavati/ nishyesha jadyapaha.> (To Her whom Brahma, Krishna, and Shiva worship/ While the Gods make devoted offferings -- / O Saraswati, generous gift-giver, guard me/ and remove all my lethargy and procrastination.) -- Len/ Kalipadma On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:39:05 -0000 "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta writes: > MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (USA) - Sept. 27, 2004: Instruments, laptops and > music textbooks were blessed on Sunday at the Saraswati Puja > Ceremony > in the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. > > The Hindu ceremony was held as part of the Navaratri Festival, which > was held at the campus from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The festival > is > a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga. > > During the festival in India people greet family and friends, enjoy > music and dance concerts. And on the ninth day of the festival, > Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, is worshipped. > > T. Viswanathan, who taught at the university since 1975 and died in > 2002, developed the festival. > > Viswanathan was remembered during the Saraswati Puja Ceremony which > celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of > new endeavors. > > Dr. A. V. Srinivasan, from the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, > led > the ceremony. He has been coming to the university for the past 10 > years to conduct it. > > "We've been associated with music program since the 1960s," > Srinivasan > said. > > Obstacles were removed by praying to the God, Mahaganapati. It is a > common Hindu belief that a prayer must be offered to the God for his > blessing so that the rest of the mission proceeds without incident. > > After the prayer was given, the cleansing was started with water > that > was poured into a metallic vessel. Srinivasan and Joseph Getter, who > was also leading the ceremony, symbolically washed their hands with > the water. > > Saraswati was then prayed to and given offerings. Sweet drink, > water, > incense a clean piece of cloth, flower petals, change and fruits and > vegetables were offered. > > Just before the ceremony's end, the participants stood up and turned > to their right three times to absolve their sins. The instruments, > textbooks and laptops were laid out on the floor next to the altar. > > The gold and green altar to which they prayed had icons of Ganesh, > Durga and Saraswati. > > "Offerings are going to be made to their image on this occasion," > Kamla Srinivasan, wife of A.V. Srinivasan, said as she prepared the > altar > > Getter, who is working on his doctorate in Indian music, said after > the ceremony that he enjoys the Saraswati Puja Ceremony because he > believes he might get a blessing from the deities and he finds it > interesting. He wants to learn more about it, he said. > > The university also invites professional musicians from India to > play > and speak with the students during the Navaratri Festival. Indian > food > is also served during the festival. > > "To hear a concert by a leading artist is an incredible experience," > Getter said. > > Balasubrahmaniyan, who has been teaching South Indian Karnatak Music > at the university for one year, said he's been enjoying himself. > > "It gives me so much pleasure to be here," Balasubrahmaniyan said. > > SOURCE: Festival ends with learning and wisdom > By JOSH MROZINSKI , Middletown Press Staff > URL: > http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13012252&BRD=1645&PAG =461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6 > ______________ Get your name as your email address. Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Hi Len: The temple calendar is correct, of course. ;-) Not to worry, members of Shakti Sadhana will *definitely* be aware of the Navratri festival as it proceeds. My guess was that the real dates were booked, and the Wesleyan organizers took what was available, figuring better inaccurately multi-cultural than not multi-cultural at all! But maybe you're right, and they just plain got it wrong. *lol* Either way, thanks for noting it ... DB , kalipadma@j... wrote: > > The Lunar Hindu Calendar published by The Flushing Hindu Temple gives the > dates of Durga Navaratri in 2004 as Oct 13 until Oct 21. The last three > days (Oct 19th, 20th, and 21st of 2004) are sacred to Saraswati. > > Lunar Calendars are tricky. It sounds like someone in Wesleyan forgot > that last year has an addition 13th month (as Lunar calendars often do), > which pushed festivals about a month later this year. > > But this means Shakti sadhana readers can celebrate another Saraswati > Puja in a few weeks! > > <Ya brahma achutya shankara prabritibhir/ > Devai sada pujita/ > Sa mam patu saraswati bhagavati/ > nishyesha jadyapaha.> > > (To Her whom Brahma, Krishna, and Shiva worship/ > While the Gods make devoted offferings -- / > O Saraswati, generous gift-giver, guard me/ > and remove all my lethargy and procrastination.) > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > > > On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:39:05 -0000 "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta> > writes: > > MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (USA) - Sept. 27, 2004: Instruments, laptops and > > music textbooks were blessed on Sunday at the Saraswati Puja > > Ceremony > > in the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. > > > > The Hindu ceremony was held as part of the Navaratri Festival, which > > was held at the campus from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The festival > > is > > a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga. > > > > During the festival in India people greet family and friends, enjoy > > music and dance concerts. And on the ninth day of the festival, > > Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, is worshipped. > > > > T. Viswanathan, who taught at the university since 1975 and died in > > 2002, developed the festival. > > > > Viswanathan was remembered during the Saraswati Puja Ceremony which > > celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of > > new endeavors. > > > > Dr. A. V. Srinivasan, from the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, > > led > > the ceremony. He has been coming to the university for the past 10 > > years to conduct it. > > > > "We've been associated with music program since the 1960s," > > Srinivasan > > said. > > > > Obstacles were removed by praying to the God, Mahaganapati. It is a > > common Hindu belief that a prayer must be offered to the God for his > > blessing so that the rest of the mission proceeds without incident. > > > > After the prayer was given, the cleansing was started with water > > that > > was poured into a metallic vessel. Srinivasan and Joseph Getter, who > > was also leading the ceremony, symbolically washed their hands with > > the water. > > > > Saraswati was then prayed to and given offerings. Sweet drink, > > water, > > incense a clean piece of cloth, flower petals, change and fruits and > > vegetables were offered. > > > > Just before the ceremony's end, the participants stood up and turned > > to their right three times to absolve their sins. The instruments, > > textbooks and laptops were laid out on the floor next to the altar. > > > > The gold and green altar to which they prayed had icons of Ganesh, > > Durga and Saraswati. > > > > "Offerings are going to be made to their image on this occasion," > > Kamla Srinivasan, wife of A.V. Srinivasan, said as she prepared the > > altar > > > > Getter, who is working on his doctorate in Indian music, said after > > the ceremony that he enjoys the Saraswati Puja Ceremony because he > > believes he might get a blessing from the deities and he finds it > > interesting. He wants to learn more about it, he said. > > > > The university also invites professional musicians from India to > > play > > and speak with the students during the Navaratri Festival. Indian > > food > > is also served during the festival. > > > > "To hear a concert by a leading artist is an incredible experience," > > Getter said. > > > > Balasubrahmaniyan, who has been teaching South Indian Karnatak Music > > at the university for one year, said he's been enjoying himself. > > > > "It gives me so much pleasure to be here," Balasubrahmaniyan said. > > > > SOURCE: Festival ends with learning and wisdom > > By JOSH MROZINSKI , Middletown Press Staff > > URL: > > > http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13012252&BRD=1645&PAG > =461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6 > > > > > ______________ > Get your name as your email address. > Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more > Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 *snickers* You can say that again. I been thinking about celebrating Saraswati Puja just to get a feel for Hindu festivals. Granted, I am still learning (I have A LOT to learn!), but experimenting also helps with the learning process, does it not? Blessings, >kalipadma > > >Re: Saraswati Puja Closes U.S. Navratri Festival >Tue, 28 Sep 2004 15:42:42 -0400 > > >The Lunar Hindu Calendar published by The Flushing Hindu Temple gives the >dates of Durga Navaratri in 2004 as Oct 13 until Oct 21. The last three >days (Oct 19th, 20th, and 21st of 2004) are sacred to Saraswati. > >Lunar Calendars are tricky. It sounds like someone in Wesleyan forgot >that last year has an addition 13th month (as Lunar calendars often do), >which pushed festivals about a month later this year. > >But this means Shakti sadhana readers can celebrate another Saraswati >Puja in a few weeks! > ><Ya brahma achutya shankara prabritibhir/ >Devai sada pujita/ >Sa mam patu saraswati bhagavati/ >nishyesha jadyapaha.> > >(To Her whom Brahma, Krishna, and Shiva worship/ >While the Gods make devoted offferings -- / >O Saraswati, generous gift-giver, guard me/ >and remove all my lethargy and procrastination.) > >-- Len/ Kalipadma > > >On Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:39:05 -0000 "Devi Bhakta" <devi_bhakta >writes: > > MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (USA) - Sept. 27, 2004: Instruments, laptops and > > music textbooks were blessed on Sunday at the Saraswati Puja > > Ceremony > > in the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. > > > > The Hindu ceremony was held as part of the Navaratri Festival, which > > was held at the campus from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The festival > > is > > a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga. > > > > During the festival in India people greet family and friends, enjoy > > music and dance concerts. And on the ninth day of the festival, > > Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, is worshipped. > > > > T. Viswanathan, who taught at the university since 1975 and died in > > 2002, developed the festival. > > > > Viswanathan was remembered during the Saraswati Puja Ceremony which > > celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of > > new endeavors. > > > > Dr. A. V. Srinivasan, from the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, > > led > > the ceremony. He has been coming to the university for the past 10 > > years to conduct it. > > > > "We've been associated with music program since the 1960s," > > Srinivasan > > said. > > > > Obstacles were removed by praying to the God, Mahaganapati. It is a > > common Hindu belief that a prayer must be offered to the God for his > > blessing so that the rest of the mission proceeds without incident. > > > > After the prayer was given, the cleansing was started with water > > that > > was poured into a metallic vessel. Srinivasan and Joseph Getter, who > > was also leading the ceremony, symbolically washed their hands with > > the water. > > > > Saraswati was then prayed to and given offerings. Sweet drink, > > water, > > incense a clean piece of cloth, flower petals, change and fruits and > > vegetables were offered. > > > > Just before the ceremony's end, the participants stood up and turned > > to their right three times to absolve their sins. The instruments, > > textbooks and laptops were laid out on the floor next to the altar. > > > > The gold and green altar to which they prayed had icons of Ganesh, > > Durga and Saraswati. > > > > "Offerings are going to be made to their image on this occasion," > > Kamla Srinivasan, wife of A.V. Srinivasan, said as she prepared the > > altar > > > > Getter, who is working on his doctorate in Indian music, said after > > the ceremony that he enjoys the Saraswati Puja Ceremony because he > > believes he might get a blessing from the deities and he finds it > > interesting. He wants to learn more about it, he said. > > > > The university also invites professional musicians from India to > > play > > and speak with the students during the Navaratri Festival. Indian > > food > > is also served during the festival. > > > > "To hear a concert by a leading artist is an incredible experience," > > Getter said. > > > > Balasubrahmaniyan, who has been teaching South Indian Karnatak Music > > at the university for one year, said he's been enjoying himself. > > > > "It gives me so much pleasure to be here," Balasubrahmaniyan said. > > > > SOURCE: Festival ends with learning and wisdom > > By JOSH MROZINSKI , Middletown Press Staff > > URL: > > >http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13012252&BRD=1645&PAG >=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6 > > > > >______________ >Get your name as your email address. >Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more >Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today! _______________ Don’t just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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