Lucknow: Navratri holds a special place in Hindu tradition, symbolizing not only religious devotion but also cultural and social significance. The festival is associated with spiritual discipline, fasting, meditation, and self-purification, with the belief that observing these practices during Navratri purifies the mind, body, and soul.
Continuing the tradition of previous years, the Congress Party celebrated the auspicious Sharadiya Navratri at the Uttar Pradesh Congress State Office with the worship of Adishakti Maa Durga. The ceremony included Vedic chanting and Kanya Pujan, where young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga were honored.
Under the guidance of State Congress President Ajay Rai, the girls’ feet were washed in a symbolic ritual, while women participants adorned the girls and offered a traditional feast. Following the rituals, gifts including clothes and dakshina were presented to the girls by Rai, who also performed their Aarti. The event was organized by Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, chief organizer of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Seva Dal.
The celebration also reflected Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, showcasing interfaith participation. Devotees from other religious communities, including Muslim members, offered gifts and dakshina according to their beliefs, expressing their reverence for Devi Shakti.
The event saw a strong turnout of Congress workers and leaders, including UPCC spokesperson Priyanka Gupta, Congress Seva Dal zonal presidents Sushil Tiwari, Laxmi Narayan Dixit, Satish Bind, Sanjeev Singh, Sarita Yadav, Niharik Singh, Kaniska Raphael, Shifa Ahmed, Shiri Khan, Aman Verma, Sabina Khatun, Pankaj Tiwari, Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh Mishra, and Churchill Bhai, among many others.
The program highlighted devotional fervor, cultural traditions, and communal harmony, reinforcing the Congress Party’s commitment to celebrating India’s diverse spiritual heritage.
