Lucknow: The six-day Shri Shri Durga Puja celebrations at Ramakrishna Math, Nirala Nagar, Lucknow, continued with deep devotion and elaborate rituals on Monday, as devotees gathered to celebrate Maha Ashtami. The day’s programme featured traditional worship, Kumari Puja, Havan, Pushpanjali, spiritual discourse and a classical sitar recital.
The ceremonies began at 6.15 am with auspicious shehnai music, followed by the ritualistic Mahasnan, an elaborate ceremonial bath of the deity involving water collected from around 50 sources and accompanied by the chanting of sacred mantras.
The worship also included 83 members of Goddess Durga’s divine family, including Lakshmi, Ganesha, Saraswati and Kartikeya, along with their respective mounts, such as the lion, mouse, owl, swan and peacock.
At 7.15 am, Swami Muktinathanandaji Maharaj delivered an online spiritual discourse on the importance of applying scriptural teachings in everyday life. He said the purpose of scriptural debate was not merely to argue but to discover the truth and guide one’s life in the right direction. He emphasised that the scriptures teach discernment, moral conduct and humility, and that true scriptural understanding should purify one’s thoughts and help one become a better human being.
Following the discourse, Swami Shivadhishananda of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur, presented devotional songs, accompanied on the tabla by Shubham Raj of Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Lucknow.
Kumari Puja and Pushpanjali Draw Devotees
Kumari Puja was performed in the temple pandal between 9 am and 9.45 am. A five-year-old girl, symbolising the living manifestation of the Divine Mother, was ceremonially adorned and worshipped in the presence of a large gathering of devotees.
The ritual conveys the message that women should be treated with respect, both within the home and in society.
Havan and Pushpanjali followed at 9.45 am, allowing devotees to offer flowers and sandalwood to Goddess Durga. Those unable to attend in person could participate in the Pushpanjali through the Math’s official YouTube channel, enabling devotees in India and abroad to join the rituals online.
Swami Satyavidananda of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Mylapore, Chennai, led the chanting of sacred mantras. Fruit prasad was distributed among the devotees after the ceremony.
Sandhi Puja Marks the Sacred Moment
One of the most significant rituals of the six-day celebrations, Sandhi Puja, was performed between 10.28 am and 11.16 am. The ritual symbolises the destruction of demonic tendencies within human beings and the development of divine qualities.
At 12.30 pm, cooked food was offered to the Goddess as bhog, following which cooked prasad was distributed among devotees.
The evening programme featured Sandhya Aarti performed by three priests, followed by a collective recitation of the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram and group singing of Kali kirtans.
Sitar-Tabla Jugalbandi Captivates Audience
The cultural programme held during the evening offering to the Goddess featured an engaging sitar recital by Chandigarh-based musician Sumit Padam Singh, who presented Raga Rageshwari. He was accompanied by renowned Lucknow tabla player Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan. Their musical jugalbandi captivated the audience with its melodic depth and rhythmic interplay.
Sumit Padam Singh comes from a three-generation musical family. His father, Jasbir Singh Padam, was his first guru, while his grandfather, Sohan Singh Padam, was a graded sitar player with All India Radio and a noted instrument maker.
A believer in the principle of Guru Kripa Hi Kevalam, Sumit continues his musical training under Pandit Harvinder Sharma, a top-grade All India Radio and television artist associated with the musical tradition of Ustad Vilayat Khan.
A high-grade sitar artist with All India Radio and television, Sumit has performed at prestigious venues in India and abroad. He holds MA, MPhil and PhD qualifications in music and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Sitar in the Department of Instrumental Music, Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts, at Apeejay College of Fine Arts, Jalandhar.
Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan belongs to the distinguished Lucknow gharana of tabla playing and is known for his distinctive style, rhythmic mastery and technical precision. He received his initial training from his father, Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan, and grandfather, Ustad Wajid Hussain Khan.
A top-grade All India Radio artist, he has earned recognition for his contributions to Indian classical music. Honoured with the Taal-Mani title and the National Youth Award, he continues to contribute to the rich tabla tradition of the Lucknow gharana.
The celebrations are being livestreamed through the official YouTube channel of Ramakrishna Math, Lucknow, enabling devotees worldwide to participate in the festivities.
The Math has invited devotees to attend the Maha Navami Puja on October 20, beginning at 6.15 am. Prasad will be available from 12.30 pm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=RtToJsBhYBatUrym&v=mOuYNSdhjHA&feature=youtu.be
