By Saskia Warrick
As the auspicious period of Navratri commences, Pandit Ganesh Persaud urges all to honor and respect women.
Navratri, meaning ‘nine nights,’ is a dedicated time for Hindus to honor the Divinity of Mata Durga, the Universal Mother.
During this period, Hindus engage in penance through cleansing, fasting, and prayer to seek blessings from Mata Uma.
On the first night of Navratri, Pandit Ganesh Persaud, speaking at the Sevak Satsang Mandir, encouraged attendees to respect women and distance themselves from negative practices.
He emphasized that women are embodiments of Shakti, the divine feminine energy, and should be revered accordingly.
The prayers and praises offered to the Universal Mother during Navratri are cultural traditions inherited from ancestors in India, upheld and glorified by subsequent generations.
It is a time marked by cleanliness and the avoidance of anything sacrilegious or unholy.
This call for respect and reverence for women resonates deeply with the spiritual and cultural significance of Navratri, reminding individuals of the divine essence within all women.