Pandit Buddarath Yankatesu performed Durga Puja at the Navratri celebration at the Bamboo No. 1 Mandir, Valsayn on Thursday night, the third night of the nine-night festival, which started on Tuesday April 09 and will be ending on Wednesday April 17. 2024.
For each night of the nine-night Navratri a different form of Mother Durga is worshipped with a specific quality to enhance the human resource growth of the devotee: 1st night as Maa Shaliputri representing resilience and hard work; 2nd night as Maa Brahmachari representing calmness and mindfulness;3rd night as Maa Chandraghanta representing focus on goals; 4th night as Maa Kushmanda representing creativity and enthusiasm; 5th night as Maa Skandamata representing benevolence and kindness; 6th night as Maa Katyayani representing righteousness; 7th night as Maa Kalaratri representing courage; 8th night as Maa Mahagauri representing kindness and Maa Siddhadatri representing growth and development.
Mother Durga helps us to overcome our lower self which manifest as greed, lust, anger and hatred and replace them with more noble qualities that would enhance ourselves. The qualities of resilience, hard work, mindfulness, creativeness, enthusiasm, kindness, righteousness and courage are essential for both our personal and societal success. By embodying those qualities, the individual would be better positioned to contribute positively to his personal growth and nation building.
“It is time for us to embody these qualities and reflect them in our daily lives,” said Wayne Lalchan, President of the Bamboo No 1 Mandir, Valsayn. Wayne and his dedicated executive and devotees have been keeping the flag of dharma fluttering in the community. In addition to the ongoing physical enhancement of the mandir, the Bamboo No. 1 Mandir hosted the Ramayan Yatra of the Radha Govind Society on Monday April 8. On Sunday March 24 the Bamboo No. 1 sponsored a Chowtaal Sammelan where six chowtaal groups participated. This was followed with the burning of Holika. The program was enjoyed by all who attended and are looking forward to the celebration next year.
Pandit Yankatesu has distinguished himself as a servant of dharma. Trained by the Hindu Prachaar Kendra (Missionary School) and the Academy of Hinduism, Pandit Yankatesu now runs regular programs at his Ashram in Bamboo No.1 with the full support of his family including his son Sanjaya who is now a full time pandit.
Sanatan Dharma is very much alive in Bamboo No1 & 3 thanks to the focus and dedication of Pandit Yankatesu, Wayne Lalchan and the host of other devotees who are always willing to make available their time and resources to shape a brighter Trinidad and Tobago.
Pandit Yankatesu said that Mother Durga was born out of the combined energies of the devatas or gods who wanted to destroy the negative forces that were threatening their lives. “I know that if we incorporate the qualities of Mother Durga into our live, much of the problems that plague us today would disappear,” said Panditji. Throughout his discourse Panditji expressed alarm at the ongoing wars across the globe and prayed for the intervention of Mother Durga to bring about peace and calm.
