New England Shirdi Sai Temple located in Chelmsford MA celebrated Chaitra Navaratri a Nine-Day long festival starting Friday March 20^th  through Sunday March 29^th. Rama Navami is one of the important Hindu Festivals, celebrating the birth of lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Kausalya.

This festival is the most celebrated in shridi since 1898 as the devotees regarded this auspicious day as the birthday of Lord Sai who alike Lord Rama, an incarnation. NESSP has been following this tradition of celebrating Ram Navami for several years now. The first day of navaratri “Chaitra Shudha Paadyami” is celebrated as Ugadi (Telugu New year) and Gudi Padwa(Marathi New year). Jaladhivaas and Danyadhivaas were performed for the sanctification of the Ganesha Idol followed by sthapana of Ganesha Idol with vedic chantings along with Devi Maa Kalasha sthapana was done on this day to maintain the auspiciousness and energy throughout the nine days. “Ugadi pachadi” was made by the volunteers to serve to the devotees and later everybody gathered to listen to the “Panchanga Sravanam” (almanac) of the New Year read by Shri PVR garu.

Leaf Pooja to Lord Hanuman, Gayathri Pooja, Kumkum archana to Sri Lalitha Devi took place during the 9 days. On Saturday March 21st, the devotees started reading the Akhanda Ramayana Path (Reading of the holy book of Ramayan) with lot of dedication and enthusiasm through Sunday March 22nd night for 24 hours and concluded.

On the day 9 “Rama Navami”, Shri Seetha Rama procession was done within the temple

The celestial wedding of the ideal couple Sita and Rama (Sri Seetha Rama Kalyanam) was performed on Saturday March 28th with complete ritual under the guidance of Priest Shri Satish Sharma and Shri Nagendra Shastry.

Abhishek was performed with chanting of  vedic mantras to infuse divinity into the Sri Seeta Rama, Lakshmana and hanuman idols.  Idols of Lord Rama and Sita were decked beautifully along with Lakshmana and Hanuman.

The mandap (Stage) was delightfully decorated with flowers, volunteers prepared sweets and the entire wedding ritual was an eye feast to all the devotees. Many people witnessed and took part in this auspicious celestial wedding of the ideal couple Sita and Rama.

The reading of holy book Shri Sai Satcharitra was conducted on March 29^th   Day 10 where several devotees took part in reading each chapter. The day was concluded with Sri Rama and Shri Sai Homam( Purnahauthi) followed by Shri Sai Palkhi procession within the temple premises with huge pomp and splendor. All the devotees were dancing in Joy and Singing the glory of Sai.

Bhandara/Maha prasad was served on most of the days of the Navaratri.

Nevertheless to say about the efforts of  volunteers including kids, put to gather in making the entire nine day event successful with the divine blessings of Baba.

Please follow the links for the moments captured during the Chaitra Navaratri celebrations

https://picasaweb.google.com/112137163156375580948/ChaitraNavratri2015#

https://picasaweb.google.com/112137163156375580948/SriSeetaramaKalyanaMahotsavam#

NESSP is a standalone nonprofit organization, 501C (3), Tax Exempt status from IRS (Tax ID-20-5288174) currently located in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

Hail Shri Sai…Always rest in our hearts and minds and mentor us towards the right path.

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