AS we near the end of September, and celebrate Heritage Day in South Africa, the Queensburgh Hindu Dharma Sabha is gearing up for its celebrations of the festival of Saraswathi Pooja.
“Saraswathi Pooja is one of the major annual events celebrated in Indian culture,” said the spokesman for the Sabha, Percival Thaver.
“Queensburgh Hindu Dharma Sabha invites the Hindu community to participate in the prayer. Not only will this be a prayer, but also a celebration of sublime traditions in the form of various art forms such as dance. After all, it is Goddess Saraswathi that grants her devotees wisdom and is the mother of art, held very closely to the hearts of the Hindu people,” he said.
Thaver said anyone attending can expect a spiritually uplifting afternoon of divine hymns, known as bahajans, performed by a group of young Hindu aspirants, Gurukuga Sangeetha Nilayam. “Every devotee will have the opportunity to participate in the prayer. The event will also include Hindu dances by the Natya Bhakti Nilayam.”
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Thaver explained the significance of the deity celebrated in the festival.
“Mother Saraswathi is significant to Hindus. Draped in a white silk saree, Goddess Saraswathi is an embodiment of wisdom, knowledge and learning. One of her hand holds a rosary, the other a book while the other two hands focus on playing the musical instrument ‘Veena’. The deity sits on an inverted lotus symbolising knowledge while her vehicle is a white swan,” he said.
He added that devotees are encouraged to worship the Goddess Saraswathi because of the educational value she holds. Something which, as the final school terms begin soon, cannot be undervalued.
Thaver said the festival is also an opportunity for community building. “Not only is this festival celebrated with a lot of excitement, zeal and fervour among the Hindus, it is also an opportunity for various Hindu people of Queensburgh and surrounding areas to unite in the beautiful religion and culture,” he explained.
The event takes place at Westville Park School Hall, at 3pm, on Sunday, 6 October. For further information, contact Taver on 0783869980.
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