The festival of Navratri is one of the most auspicious and widely celebrated Hindu festivals. It is celebrated to honour Goddess Durga who symbolizes power and purity. Nava means “nine” and Ratri means “night”. This is a 9 nights and 10 days festival. This festival is dedicated to the Hindu deity Durga. Nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped in Navratri.

Navaratri honours the Devi, the great Goddess and divine Mother, the all-prevading Shakti. Navaratri fall in the month of Aasu as per the Hindu calendar.

The first three nights of Navaratri honor Mahadurga, the form of the Devi that dissolves ignorance.

The next three nights of Navaratri honor Mahalakshmi, the goddess of abundance, beauty, and auspiciousness.

The final three nights honor Mahasaraswati, the embodiment of wisdom and creativity.

Dasera is alsp known as Vijayadashami-the tenth day, the day of victory. Dasera celebrates the Hindu God Rama’s victory over the king Ravana (ten headed devil}and the triumph of good over evil.

The nine different colors for Navaratri are : grey, orange, white, red, sky blue, pink,royal blue, yellow and green.

At the Shree Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj, Navaratri is a grand and colourful event that is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Garba, a Gujarati folk dance, is performed daily during Navaratri. We intend to ensure that the Garba dance is a great occasion for bonding and fun. Women and Men are encouraged to wear traditional costumes for the Garba.

Aatham is the main day during Navaratri. An Aatham havan is performed followed by a 108 Maha aarti.

On whole , 1000 to 1200 people attend this function.

Dasera was celebrated at our Samaj for the first time in 2018. An initiative made by the RCC team, it will continue to be a yearly event in the calendar.  A good crowd of atleast 60 people attended.  Sunilbhai said a few words on Dasera , opening prayer and then the burning of Ravan was the programme. Everyone then attended the aarti in the mandir.