Shakti

 

 

Goddess Durga

 

Navratri

When: Friday, October 2, 2009

Where: South Mall by the 6 Pack*

Time: 8 pm - 12 am

* Rain Site: Rec Sports Center (RSC) 2.200

 

Navratri, meaning "nine nights," is a major Hindu festival that lasts nine days and nine nights. This celebration is a tribute to female power and engery, otherwise known as Shakti. Navratri honors different forms of Hindu goddesses over the nine days. During the first three days, goddess Durga is worshipped as the destroyer of and protector against evil. The second three days are devoted to goddess Lakshmi, who is revered as the goddess of both material and spiritual prosperity. During the last three days, goddess Saraswati is honored as the goddess of wisdom and knowledge. In addition, Navratri symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and the victories of Durga over Mahishasura and Ram over Ravan. This year, Navratri lasts from September 30th to October 8th.

The celebration of Navratri at the University of Texas at Austin culminates in performing traditional dances such as garba, raas, and bhangra. Garba is a graceful dance in which people dance in a circle, often around a centerpiece of flowers and lamps. Dandiya raas is a fast-paced dance in which dancers with colorfully decorated sticks strike the sticks of the person in front of them.

Come celebrate Navratri FREE with Hindu Students Council! There will be a fantastic DJ, great music, tasty food, and free T-shirts! Please bring your UT ID if you want to use our dandiya sticks!

With Special Thanks to: University Co-op, Princeton Review, College of Liberal Arts, Butler School of Music, Gender and Sexuality Center, Four Way Travels, Chipotle, Pizza Hut, Smoothie King, and Udipi Cafe.

 

Rasa Lila (Raas)