KARACHI: After being closed for festivals for more than a year now, due Covid-19, the Shree Ratneshwar Maha Dev Temple in Clifton, has opened its doors once again to celebrate the Shubh Navratri Festival.

Navratri, also known as the festival of nine nights and fasting, has been celebrated here every evening since the new moon on Oct 7.

Each evening is dedicated to honouring one of ‘nine manifestations of goddess Durga’, who in Hindu mythology is known for her strength, power and the ability to protect.

The first night of Navratri marks the puja of Shailputri Mata. The next is dedicated to Brahmacharini. Similarly, the third night, which fell on Saturday, was showing dedication and respect to Maa Chandraghanta.

Besides scripture readings, singing of devotional songs or bhajan, there was also dandia dance. Women and little girls dressed in finery all danced around the beautifully decorated deities. Many devotees had pretty red chunris tied around their foreheads and arms. Some also wore red bands and ribbons with the words ‘Happy Navratri’ and ‘Om’ printed on them.

The festivities continued till midnight when there was an arti and puja followed by prayers for shakti, strength or power. This was followed by a prasad distribution for the devotees to break their 24-hour long fast. Alongside, there was also cake cutting, which the younger devotees enjoyed very much.

Ravi Dhawani, general secretary of the All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat, said that everyone was very happy that the temple was open again for holding festivals. “It has happened after such a long gap of over one-and-a-half years,” he said.

“Although these are family events with more women and children present on all days, on Monday we will have more men as the temple will also be open publicly for singles as there is also going to be Shiv puja then,” he said.

He also said that while observing standard operating procedures, they only packed the prasad in boxes for everyone to take home with them after breaking their fast with cake.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2021