The nine-day Chaitra Navratri celebration, a sacred period of devotion and fasting, commenced on Tuesday, 9 April, and culminates on Wednesday, 17 April, with the joyous celebration of the birth of Lord Ram. This auspicious event is being observed with utmost reverence in the temples of Matunga, Mumbai.
What’s more, Shri Ram Mandir (temple) in Matunga will also allow devotees to perform milk abhishekams (a ritual in which a devotee pours milk as an offering on an idol) on the idols of Sri Rama and his consorts on April 17. This will be a rare opportunity for devotees to participate in the function.
Shri Ram Mandir, also called Asthika Samajam, is celebrating its 100th year and conducting daily poojas and vedic rituals. Besides, it hosts discourses on “Valmiki Ramayanam” by Senkalipsuram Brahmasri Sankara Rama Dikshitar daily in the evenings.
Every day, the temple reverberates with the divine union of Sita and Rama in the form of Sita-Rama Kalyanam (marriage), a ritual performed by our devoted community.
Nearby, Sri Sankara Mattham in Matunga, which houses a temple of all Hindu deities, also conducts daily homams and poojas (rituals) on this auspicious Hindu religious event.
According to the Hindu calendar, Lord Sri Rama was born in Ayodhya on the ninth day of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra.
Some temples celebrate Chaitra Navratri as Vasantha Navaratri, devoted to Goddess Durga, whose nine forms are worshipped on nine days.
