Shubha Navaratri

[Guest guest]

Shubh (Blessed) Navaratri to

all!!!<br><br>Bengalis have a special relationship with the Mother, in

whatever form she chooses to present herself. Even during

the Navaratri devi puja, Bengalis address this

festival in a rather different way compared to the rest of

the country. <br><br>Our beloved divine Mother is

coming home. She is welcomed, adored, adorned, fed,

celebrated, contemplated; like a child with their mother, her

"love" is felt, enjoyed, absorbed,.. all the activites

raising our own vibrations as we tune our song to

resonate with hers. We even address her with the informal

"you". {in our languages we have the formal you (eg.

aap) and the informal "you" (eg. tum)}<br><br>Her

glories are sung and her story of victory has been told

and retold every year for milleniums on during this

time when she comes home. When on the 10th day she

leaves to go back to her husband's (Shiva) home, she is

sent off with joy and tears, promising to meet again

the following

year.<br>(<a href=http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html

target=new>http://sdbbs.tripod.com/devi.html</a> a brief transalation) At 4 am

in the morning the

day before the nine-day (navaratri) festival begins,

Bengalis wake up to the strains of a special ALL India

Radio - radio programme called Mahalaya. Hear it at,

<a href=http://www.calonline.com/puja/mahalaya.html

target=new>http://www.calonline.com/puja/mahalaya.html</a> .<br>This has the

story narration, chanting of

the shlokas, and music in a very powerful,

presentation of the Devi Mahatman. Even if one listens to it

one feels the comfort and reassurance that good will

eventually be victorious. Meanwhile, in the cosmic dance,

destruction has to take place to make way for the new

creation. <br><br>Dear Mother, give us the strength to

recognize and acknowledge our own weakness, give us the

wisdom to not hurt others, specially those we love,

destroy within us the negative tendencies, so we may be

able to resonate fully with your glorious presence as

we are meant to be. <br><br>Tathastu. <br>So Be

it!<br><br>_/\_ Tat twam asi<br><br>Uma