Kashi, September 30:
As the sacred festival of Navaratri progresses with devotion and grandeur across the country, Maha Ashtami—the eighth day of the nine-day celebration—was observed with religious fervor in the spiritual city of Varanasi. Devotees gathered in large numbers at temples and community pandals to offer prayers to Maa Durga.
One of the key venues of celebration was the Bharat Sevashram Sangha in Kashi, where traditional rituals and Pushpanjali (floral offerings) were performed with solemnity. Among the devotees present was noted poet and researcher Sudip Chandra Halder, a recipient of the Bharat Pratibha Samman, who participated in the rituals and offered prayers.
Speaking on the occasion, Halder said:
“Thousands have assembled here with devotion to offer Pushpanjali at the feet of the Divine Mother. Each offering symbolizes a prayer for peace, prosperity, and spiritual grace.”
Halder also mentioned offering personal prayers for his family’s well-being and shared plans to continue his spiritual observances through the recitation of the Durga Saptashati on Navami. On Vijaya Dashami, he intends to engage in charitable service by reaching out to underprivileged communities—an act inspired by the festival’s message of compassion and selflessness.
Concluding his visit, Halder extended greetings to devotees across the globe:
“May this Navaratri and Sharadiya Durga Utsav bring joy, inner peace, and spiritual growth to all followers of Sanatan Hindu Dharma.”
The celebration at Bharat Sevashram Sangha reflected the enduring spirit of devotion and community that defines Durga Puja in Kashi—one of Bharat’s most revered cultural and spiritual centers.
