A drive to celebrate Navatari festival in ideal manner by preventing malpractices occurring during public celebration was undertaken by Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) in Maharashtra, Karnataka and other States in the country. The movement received very good response from all strata of society. After guidance, at many places programs on ‘Dharmacharan’ and ‘Dharmajagruti’ were organized resulting in prevention of damage caused to Dharma. Public festival committees, eminent personalities from society, elected representatives from different parties and devout Hindus took part in the movement spontaneously and performed their duty towards Dharma.
Extensive awareness created on ‘Dharmacharan’
‘Dharmaprasar’ was done through lectures, Dharmashikshan classes, display of boards, telecasting VCDs, organizing quiz contests, book-exhibitions, circulars, posters etc. on how to perform ritualistic worship of Devi, how to perform the ritual of ‘Oti’, ‘kukumarchan’, importance of chanting the name of family Deity and Sri Durgadevi etc. Under this ‘Dharmaprasar’, ‘jidnyasus (curious interested to know more about spirituality)’ purchased Sanatan books, calendars, VCDs etc. on large scale. Many people sponsored and distributed the same among others. In all 306 public festival committees were visited and guided on preventing malpractices occurring during the festival. At 273 places, Sanatan’s exhibitions were put up. Exhibition on life history of revolutionaries motivated people to think about welfare of the country whereas programs like quiz contest helped to impart education to hundreds of students on matters related to Dharma. Sanatan Sanstha and HJS were, thus, successful with the grace of God in reaching millions of people imparting Dharmashikshan and creating awareness towards Dharma. Many festival committees made commendable attempts to do ‘Dharmaprasar’ by displaying different boards on ‘Dharmacharan’, putting up exhibitions on revolutionaries life history, chanting the name of sri Durgadevi, reciting of ‘stotras’ and Sri Durga Saptashati , devotional songs etc.
Efforts made for protection of Dharma
- A person attired as Maruti at Kotamgaon (Nashik Dist.) was explained and advised to change his attire.
- Boys wearing ‘Cross’ were guided at Mumbai and Nashik as also in Ratnagiri when they removed the ‘Crosses’.
Opposition
- At Dombivali (Thane), Navapada Mitra Mandal sponsored by Congress had first granted permission to hold book-exhibition but when seekers went to put up the exhibition, they were not allowed to do so.
- At Yeotmal, Mr. Subhash Ray, the President of Sri Balaji Durgotsava Mandal refused to meet or talk to Sanatan / HJS members.
Participation by ‘jidnyasus’ and devout Hindus in Dharmakarya
- ‘Jidnyasus’ who paid a visit to the book-exhibitions, display of boards on Dharmashikshan and revolutionaries so also ‘jidnyasus’ who attended lectures, took part in various ‘seva’ for number of hours. Some helped in putting up exhibition or in distributing handbills on Navaratri and many youth members applied ‘Tila’ on the forehead abiding by dharma.
- Ideal celebration of Navaratri Festival’, a drive undertaken by Sanatan Sanstha and HJS all over the country
- Response to programs on ‘Dharmacharan’ and ‘Dharmajagruti’ by Navaratri festival celebration Committees to stop damage caused to Dharma
Many ‘jidnyasus (curious)’ offer their time at exhibition places to help
- Seekers and workers help in forming the ‘Q’ system for devotees
- Police administration, elected representatives, eminent personalities take part in the activities
- Appeal to stop denigration of Deities
- Many sculptors were visited and enlightened on science
- Awareness created through the medium of local ‘Cable’ channels among more than 25 lakhs people
- Sale of ‘Sanatan –panchang (almanac)’ on large scale
- Good response and appreciation of Sanatan’s various products by people
Changes in Navaratrotsava committees and others after guidance
Mumbai : An artist used to draw ‘rangoli’ depicting Devi in the middle of the road near the premises of Mahalakshmi Temple. Prof. Dr. Lakshman Jathar explained to him about the denigration and he did not draw ‘rangoli’ of Devi.
Social worker, Mr. Vijay Singh and members of HJS explained to workers of one Navaratri Festival Committee at Borivali (W) who were playing cards in the marquee; as a result, they did not play cards on the remaining days.
Pune : ‘Dandiya’ dance was played on the tune of ‘remix’ film songs in Sri Durgadevi Temple at Panchnad Chowk at Kalewadi. Mrs. Deepa Jadhav of Sanatan Sanstha created awareness among the singers when one of the singers, Mr. Sunil Abhayraj accepted his mistake and made an appeal to others to visit Sanatan’s book- exhibition appreciating Sanatan’s activities.
Sangli : Navaratri Festival Committees at Vishrambaug were contacted and guided on how to play ‘garba’ as per the science; therefore, they played ‘garba’ on all 9 days as per the science. Posters were displayed by workers of Committee members at Ishwarpur in connection with Navaratri.
Sambhajinagar : In a program ‘dandiya-raas’ organized by Shiv Sena district-chief Mr. Ambadas Danave, HJS members were invited. All arrangements were done to celebrate Navaratri in ideal manner. Everyone going for ‘dandiya’ was let inside after applying ‘kumkum’. An exhibition on life history of revolutionaries was also put up at the venue.
Belgaum : A group of young women was explained the topic when they immediately cancelled going for ‘damdiya’ and they called their friends and even requested them for not attending ‘dandiya’. They also started chanting.
Udupi (Karnataka), Dakshin Kannad : A circular letter was published to stop malpractices taking place during Navaratri by Mr. Janardan Pujari, former Congress MP after meeting held with the workers. The orchestras were cancelled leading to 60 %prevention of malpractices.
Dhanbad : Film songs were not played after guidance given on malpractices in Navaratri to different festival committees at Kataras (Dhanbad). The local residents informed that there was reduction in malpractices taking place during procession with playing film music and dance.
Source: Daily Sanatan Prabhat
