Page 2 - September 2018 Newsletter

From The Editor’s Desk

Dear Members, aradhana is not complete. From the colorful

With the Dussehra season less than a decorations to the preparations of foods and
month away, most of our households are al- goodies, from the exuberant display of golu,

ready priming up for this long awaited fes- to the ecstasy of bhajans and chantings, we

tivity. As it has always been with our cul- are filled with an overwhelming sense of de-
ture, we have the perfect blend of spirituali- votion and well-being. Navaratri celebrates

ty and celebration going hand in hand. the victory of the good over the evil that lies
From the traditional ‘golu’ to the religious within each of us. As Balambika Divya San-

chanting of Ambal’s sahasranamam and gam gears up over the next several weeks in

namavali, we find our personal niche dur- preparation for Dussehra, we hope you are
ing this nine day utsavam. During this fif- following suit as well. Families and house-

teen day period prior to the commencement holds around the globe who are part of our

of the Navaratri festival, we pay obeisance BDS family are welcome to share their cele-
to our departed ancestors by performing brations with us and make the event all the

shraddham in their memory. It is believed more festive. We also hope to see you at our

that the souls of our deceased forefathers temple town of Malur, where Sri Balambika
are closest to our earth during this period of is going to enjoy the utsavam in Her own

time, and are waiting for our offerings and special way.
appreciation. It is also believed that after Sarvejana Sukhino Bhavantu.

the epic Mahabharata war, when Karna as-

cended to the heavens, he was offered gold
and riches, but no food, as he had never

performed annadanam specifically, inspite
of other danams. He was thus given a grace

period, which is the pitru paksha during

which he came to earth and completed his
shraddham duties. Such is the importance

of the mahalaya/pitru paksha, where our

ancestors are given their due respects.
Fifteen days into the mahalaya paksha or

pitru paksha is the mahalaya amavasya,

after which the Navaratri begins .

Each of us is only all too familiar with the
pomp and rigor of the festival. There is no

limit to the worship of mother goddess

Shakti, and we can exhaust our physical
and mental capacity, and still feel that our

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