· Replicas of famous idols of Goddess Durga from Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Mysore, Kolhapur and more..!
· 10 avtaars of Goddess Durga on 10 days
At The Saraswat Cultural Recreation Centre (GSB Garden), near N. L. Complex, Dahisar (E) from 21stSept to 30th Sept 2017
Mumbai, 25th Sept 2017:
The 10th year of GSB Navratri Festival celebrated ‘Deepotsav’ on Ashtami (on 28th Sept) today. The highlight of the day was that the entire mandal was off all electric lights and was lit up with 10,000 diyas at 6:30pm in the evening for the maha-aarti. Mumbaikars came in large numbers to light one diya each to celebrate Ashtami and to add positivity to their lives. The devi's Avtaar was Sri Mahakali Devi, which was painted black in colour by the committee members of GSB Sabha Dahisar Borivali.
This finale week, the devi avtaars saw avtaars like Chamundeshwari Devi on 25th Sep which is a replica of the idol from Mysore palace, chamundi betta which is famous for Mysore Dassera. This devi is adorned with 12 sarees and Lion is the chariot of the devi. Shantadurga Devi on 26th Sept which is a Kuldaivat of many GSB’S & Maharashtrian Brahmin hailing from Ponda in Goa. Chandika Devi on 27th Sept which is a form of Goddess Parvati based on replica of Chandika Temple from MP, Mahakali Devi on 28th Sept which is a significance of darkness to brightness in human lives, Mahalakshmi Devi on 29th Sept which is a replica of famous Kolhapur Temple of Maharashtra and lastly Sharada Devi Avtaar on 30th Sept which is form of Goddess Sita. The Sabha conducts daily poojas and sevas from 8 am to 10pm, programmes of bhajans and bhakti sangeet as well as dandiya raas from 7 pm to 10 pmdaily. This mega event is celebrated on a plot of land measuring approx. 2 acres and every year more than 1, 00, 000 devotees visit and participate in this 10 day grand function. It is the most important religious and cultural function being performed by the Sabha every year since 2008 under the aegis of Saraswat Cultural and Recreation Centre, a cultural wing of the Sabha and was inaugurated by Dharma Guru Shrimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji, Varanasi.
A move beyond the flashy dandiya costumes, the season pass for your celebrated singer and the overrated live music with band, here’s the 5 lacs GSB Community members of Mumbai celebrating Navratri Utsav in a most pious & traditional way every year since last 10 years! In its 10th year now The GSB Navratri festival 2017 is a grand pandal erected on the 2 acre plot at The Saraswat Cultural Recreation Centre (GSB Garden), near N. L. Complex, Dahisar (E) from 21st Sept 2017 to 30th Sept 2017. More than 1, 00, 000 devotees visit and participate in this 10 days grand celebration. “The festival has a one-of-its-kind way of celebrating the 10 auspicious days. We are the only organization in Maharashtra who create these different Avatars of the Devi on all the 10 days and celebrate the festival in a truly traditional way. The entire GSB Community in Maharashtra throng at the festivity to celebrate with oneness”, said Mr. Uday Padiyar, General Secretary, GSB Sabha Dahisar – Borivali.
The huge pandal is hosting the 10 ‘avtaars or ‘swaroops’ of the goddess this year as per the holy panchang which includes Saraswati Devi (21st Sept), Annapoorna Devi (22nd Sept), Vaishno Devi (23rd Sept), Durgaparameshwari Devi (24th Sept), Chamundeshwari (25th Sept), Shantadurga Devi (26th Sept), Chandika Devi (27th Sept), Mahakali Devi (28th Sept), Mahalaxmi Devi (29th Sept) and Sharada Devi (30th Sept).These Avatars are created by the committee members of the GSB Sabha Dahisar Borivali with much efforts and devotion. Almost 100 props are used for the decoration and changing the looks and setting of each Avatar which includes giving an entire make-over for the murti, the backdrop, the costumes, the setting, the props like Saraswati Devi on Peacock, Lotus of Mahalakshmi Devi, Devil of Mahakali Devi, Vegetables Décor for Annapoorna Devi, Vaishno Devi on Lion Chariot, Animal Figures like Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Peacock etc and more. This year the Mahalaxmi Idol will be accompanied by Sri Balaji, also the idol is traditionally adorned with a golden crown and silver arch (prabhavali) created at Udupi (Karnataka)