Dassera

This nine-day festival is dedicated to the Feminine Forms of the Godhead and their ritualistic worship. The Feminine Principle of Divinity is called Shakthi, and signifies the Creative Energy of the universe. Women manifest this power more typically then men. Different aspects of Divinity are celebrated over the nine-day period. The first three days are devoted to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. The next three days are offered to Durga, the Goddess who destroys fear, and the final three days focus on Saraswathi, the Goddess of Learning.

            During this festival a special sacrificial ceremony, ‘Veda Purusha Saptaha Yajna,’ accompanied by Vedic chanting is held daily from the fourth day onwards. The name of the Ceremony means ‘A week long sacrificial worship of the Lord of the Vedas-God’. The sacrificial ceremony symbolises the sacrifice of all the animal instincts ceremony symbolises the sacrifice of all the animal instincts in man for spiritual upliftment; and it is done before the Supreme Divine, the Lord of the Vedas – Swami Himself. The Vedic chantings extol the Lord and invoke His Blessings and Grace for the general well being of all mankind. During the seven days of this Yagna, Bhagawan gives daily discourses. Students (and sometimes Primary School students!) deliver spiritual talks before the Divine discourses. Well-known artists also sometimes give performances.