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FACTS
| Hindu Facts
· Hinduism is the word's third most popular religion, with around 900 million followers.
· About 80% of the population of India regard themselves as Hindus.
· Hinduism is the fourth most popular religion in Britain with around 400,000 followers.
· Hinduism is over 3000 years old, although elements of the faith are much older.
· It has no founder, single teacher, nor prophets and it is not a single unified religion, although all Hindus believe in a universal soul or God called Brahman.
· Hinduism originated near the river Indus.
· In addition to Brahman, there are many other deities such as Krishna, Shiva, Rama and Durga.
· Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.
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 |  | Special feature by Manish Gajjar, a Hindu writer
The Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community Coventry Branch have organised a special event for the Hindu festival of Navratri.
In the event, Sharad Poonam Na Raas Garba will be performed by the world-famous singer, Hemantbhai Chauhan and his group Gebi Mandal from Gujarat, India.
| Ìý |  | Ashokbhai Bhatt from Gebi Mandal
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This is the first time such an event has been organised in Coventry involving many Gujarati communities and associations from the Midlands area.
Mr Hemantbhai Chauhan and his musical group have specially flown from Gujarat in India to perform at this year's Navratri festival to be held in Coventry on 25 October 2002.
He has already started his Navratri tour which includes Leicester, Bradford, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Bolton, Leeds, Ashton and ends in Coventry.
This prestigious event has been organised in collaboration with SSPC and Rajshri Promotions Ltd who are the events co-ordinators for this religious extravaganza.
SSPC is a charitable organisation with 11 branches in the UK whose main aim is to unite small Gujarati organisations during religious and cultural festivals in the UK. The Navratri festival in Coventry is one of these events.
ÌýThe essence of Navratri
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| Ìý |  | Meenaben Patel for Gebi Mandal
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The festival of Navratri (nav = nine and ratri = nights) or Nine Nights is one of the greatest ceremonies in the lives of Hindus all over UK and the rest of the world.
This celebration comes in the Indian month of Aashwin which falls between the 7 - 14 October 2002 on the Western calendar.
It's an auspicious occasion of vibrant festivities and cultural extravaganza within Hindu communities right across the UK.
ÌýNavratri - the Hindu festival
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| Ìý |  | Durga Maa - Goddess of power
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The nine nights of Navratri are devoted to the worship of Shakti or The Divine Force, the supporter of the universe. This is represented through a female form with three manifestations.
These are Durga Maa (Goddess of power), Lakshmi Maa (Goddess of wealth), and Saraswati Maa (Goddess of knowledge).
The whole essence behind the Navratri festival is that it commemorates the victory of Goddess Durga over a demon called Mahishasur.
ÌýThe first three days of Navratri
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| Ìý |  | Bharatpuri Goswami from Gebi Mandal
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These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. Her various manifestations, Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days.
They represent the three different classes of womanhood which includes the child, the young girl and a mature woman.
ÌýThe forth and fifth days of Navratri
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| Ìý |  | Ritesh Upadhayay from Gebi Mandal
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During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped.
On the fifth day which is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp and invoke Saraswati Maa, the Goddess of knowledge and art.
ÌýThe sixth to the ninth days of Navratri
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| Ìý |  | Shilesh Thaker from Gebi Mandal
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These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. According to the Hindu scriptures, this will free us from all earthly bondage.
Ìý| Ìý |  | Vajubhai Parmar from Gebi Mandal
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During the day of the Navratri period, devotees of Durga Maa celebrate with pooja (prayers) and fasting for health and prosperity.
Prasad (holy gifts) in the form of coconuts, clothes and Indian sweets are offered. This is then distributed to the devotees after completion of this auspicious ceremony.
Flowers and garlands adorn the Godly images which are placed in a mandir (special shrine) in each household.
During these nine days, an attractively created colourful clay pot with a 'diya' (light) is ceremoniously placed near the shrine of the Goddess. This is call a 'garbo'.
The 'garbo' symbolises the human body whilst the 'diya' represents the soul.
These various rituals contribute to the spiritual development of the individual.
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ÌýCoventry event dates and venue
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Date and time
Friday 25 October 2002 from 7.30pm.
Doors open at 7.00pm.
Venue
The Sports Connexion
Leamington Road
Ryton on Dunsmore
Coventry
The venue has been organised by Shree Sorathia Prajapati Community UK (Coventry) in collaboration with Rajshri Promotions Ltd.
Tickets
Adults: £6.00
Children under 14: £4.00
For further information please contact:
Mr. Nitin Ladva: 0795 687 7353
Bharat Patel: 0773 326 8066
Dr Sheetal Majevadia: 07929 759177
Ram Enterprise: 024 766 87306
Kamlaben Bharadwa: 024 764 12857
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