By Asian Media USA ©
Chicago IL: Navratri is a nine night festival, dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Durga. It is one of the important religious festivals in India, celebrated with great pomp, affection and zeal. This festival is celebrated twice in a year with great devotion and fervor all over India. First time it is celebrated as Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri in the month of March-April and second time as Sharad Navratri in the months of September-October. During Chaitra Navratri ninth day is celebrated as Ram Navami while after Sharad Navratri next day is celebrated as Dussehera or Vijayadashami, the victory of good over evil.
This year, Chaitra Navratir started on April 8th and culminated with Ram Naumi on April 17th. Keeping up with the tradition, Hari Om Mandir had it Vishal Navratrey Mata Ki Chauki of 2016 on the second day of Navratri – Saturday, April 9th.
Bunty Bawa & Party from California, came to make this event extra special. His energetic & powerful singing made the Event a memorable one. Amidst Dhol and ringing bells, Bunty Bawa was ushered into the jam packed hall, where devotees had been waiting anxiously to hear some of his popular bhents. He started with the Guru Vandana and then as he started his first bhent “La layi Maya Ji Tere Naam Vali Mehndi”, the congregation knew no bounds……people were in total devotion for their beloved Maa Durga and started clapping & dancing.
Such was the aura of Bunty Bawa’s singing that the whole temple echoed with the sounds of “Jai Mata Ki!” and bells rang. HOM premises transformed in to Mata Vaishno Devi Durbar. The Mandir had already been beautifully decked up to suit the occasion and special arrangements had been made as per the requirements of such an extravaganza!!! Vipan Wadhera, President and Sat Pal Salwan, Chairman HOM, expressed gratitude and thanks to the Board members, working Committees and Volunteers who worked very hard to make all arrangements-seating, parking decoration and food etc. for this program.
Those who had worked hard to put together the event included, Executive Board members, Vipan Wadhera; President, Anil Saxena; Vice President, Anita Rawal; Secretary, Gopal Tiwari; Treasurer, Jeetu Patel; Special Events, Aarti Singla; Inside Property Management, Ramesh Bhardwaj; Outside Property Management, Ashok Sharma; Publication, Shubh Sharma; Food & Prasad; Board of Trustees: Sat P. Salwan; Chairman, Krishan Tejpal; Vice Chairman, Naveen Paul; Secretary, Ram Verma; Mahendra Thakkar; Subhash Sharma; Chandru Bhojwani and Upma Hardy, and Priests: Pt.Dinesh Kumar and Pt. Rghuvir Dave.