The Hindu Community was urged to adhere to COVID guidelines while observing Chaitra Navratri
Kaieteur News – As the Hindu Community began observing Chaitra Navratri yesterday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, in a statement, not only extended greetings but warned of the importance of adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
President of the Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.
In the statement, he noted that during the nine-night sacred period, devotees worshiped the main forms of Shakti Ma as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati sought to dispel darkness and negative energy to be enlightened with wisdom and spiritual knowledge. “It is a disciplined time of fasting, prayers and implantation. Navratri’s transitional period allows the seeker to overcome difficulties in life, ”the statement added.
The Dharmic Sabha, in its statement, also advised every mandate to adhere to strict COVID-19 prevention guidelines, highlighting that our society faces a deadly and easily transmitted variant of COVID-19 and “we very concerned by the increasing number of positive cases and deaths across the country. He has therefore recommended the following:
• Satsanghs Virtual Navratri on social media.
• When having satsanghs mandir, DO NOT exceed the 40 percent capacity. We suggest smaller numbers within the mandirs and adhere to the six-foot distance rules at all times.
• All devotees, singers, musicians and pandits MUST always wear their masks in a mandir.
• Bhojan / food / Prasad must be served in boxes / bags for ready meals and not consumed in mandir.
• Mandirs can also encourage stunning presence to deter crowds. People can attend services on alternate days to allow for smaller numbers.
• Hand washing or sanitary facilities are available.
Meanwhile, President of the Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, that she is aware of the difficulties the world is facing through the COVID-19 pandemic and recently our neighbors through natural disaster. Furthermore, he urged the Hindu community to offer prayers to all the people of the world to be blessed by Aad Shakti Ma with resilience, health and faith to overcome these adversities and challenges. He also urged people to use this time to offer support and kindness to those in need by sharing hampers and meals. He urged Dr. Persuade all to recognize this as “a time when we worship the feminine aspect of the divine, to continue to be ardent advocates of violence and abuse inflicted on women and girls.”
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, added the statement, that he will bring the mandir to homes through online programs, chanting, bhajans, kirtan and satsanghs on Facebook throughout the period in an effort to keep people safe. “We encourage home prayer, fasting and disciplined observance of the period, which dedicate nine nights to the worship of Aad Shakti Durga Ma,” the statement outlined.
He added, “We know that the Hindu community is looking forward to this sacred time of collective worship or satsangh, but we are in a time of threat to health and life with the increasing transmissibility of this deadly variant of COVID -19, so it’s important for everyone to stay safe. ”
Noting that this period of Navratri was one designed to proclaim inner peace, positivity and spiritual upliftment, the statement added, “As you worship Durga Ma to dispel negativity, Lakshmi Mata to guide us in abundance and light, and finally, Saraswati Maths for knowledge and wisdom, our earnest hope is that you will all be safe and enjoy good health. ”