NESSP celebrated the grand opening of the largest Shirdi Sai temple in North America over the Navaratri weeks to welcome our beloved Sadguru Sri Sainath Maharaj along with Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Lord Duttatreya, Lord Venkateshwara Parivaar, Radha-Krishna, Lord Rama Parivaar, Vasavi Mata, Sharika Mata and the Navagrahas into their majestic new Abode on 14th, 18th, 19th, 20th Oct. 2018. During this 12 day celebrations and Navaratri from Oct 9th to Oct 21st, we also commemorated the centenary Mahasamadhi of Sai Baba on 18th Oct. 2018, Dussera day. Thousands of devotees participated in the Pranpratishta mahotsav and seek blessings from Sai Baba and all deities. The inauguration is followed by 2 days of cultural programs on 21st, 28th Oct. 2018 and over 650 students and 40 plus teachers participated.

Highlights:

The festival started with the Go (Cow) Pooja, Noothana Devalaya Pravesham: (Traditional Vedic Worship and Welcome to the Deities into the new Temple): Early the morning of 10th Oct, 2018, on the second day of Navaratri, as the clock struck the auspicious hour (as determined beforehand by the traditional Hindu calendar) hour of 6:00am, the New England Shirdi Sai Temple moved from the old leased location in Chelmsford, MA  to its permanent new home at 99 Shirdi Way, Groton, MA accompanied by Vedic rituals and the traditional Go Pooja (Cow Worship). This was followed by the Noothana Devalaya Pravesham ceremony to welcome the main temple deity, our beloved Sri Sai Baba (Sri Sainath Maharaj) in a grand Palkhi procession by temple priests and devotees with much pomp and ceremony.

Maha Kumbhabhishekham-Pranprathishta of 27 deities: On Sunday, Oct 14, 2018, Shikhara Pooja & Shikhara Kumbhabhishekam was performed to consecrated and purify the temple by bathing its crown, Shikhar or Gopuram in sanctified water, honey, milk, and other libations at an auspicious time accompanied by chanting and other religious rites. Hundreds of devotees participated in this ceremony by sponsoring a Kalasha, the holy waters from which were used in purification rituals and for Abhishekam of the RajGopuram on their behalf.

Cultural Programs, Golu, Garba, Batukamma, Jagrata:

Thousands of eager devotees attended this 12-day New England Shirdi Sai Temple Inauguration program of worship, celebration, music, and dance, to catch a glimpse of this holy sanctuary, that will serve as a majestic portal for devotees from not just New England, but also distant places to receive the Grace and Blessings of their Sadguru from Shirdi, 8,000 miles away. NESSP Celebrated Garba, Golu, Mata Ka Jagraata and Batukamma during Navratri days.

Bhandara, upcoming Temple Canteen: Free offered prasad Bhandara prepared and sponsored by local restaurants, families located in different towns across MA, NH and the temple Bhandara team was served on all 12- days. NESSP is very grateful to the support that was received from local restaurants, local communities during this inauguration across NE. NESSP is launching the Sai canteen during weekends that will be functional from Dec. 22nd, 2018, Dutta Jayanthi day.

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