Pune: Shri Mahalaxmi Temple, in collaboration with the Shri Bansilal Ramnath Agrawal Religious and Cultural Trust, will host a grand public Navratri celebration from October 3rd to 12th.
Alongside the traditional religious ceremonies, the festival will shine a spotlight on women empowerment, honoring female achievers across various domains for their contributions to society.
Friday, October 4: Group recitation of Shree Sukt by women; Honor for female PMC employees; Shiv-Parvati wedding drama.
Saturday, October 5: Aarti led by women HR executives.
Sunday, October 6: Honor for female judges; Kathakali dance on Lord Krishna.
Monday, October 7: Aarti by PMC sanitation workers; Aarti by female authors and poets.
Tuesday, October 8: 'Kanya Pujan' for underprivileged girls; Play and folk performances on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Wednesday, October 9: 'Bhondla' by schoolteachers.
Thursday, October 10: Tribute to mothers and wives of soldiers; Honor for female military officers.
Friday, October 11: Tribute to women achievers; Group Garba dance; Symbolic Ravan Dahan focusing on violence against women.
Dr. Trupti Agrawal, trustee and chief of the festival, announced that the event would feature daily aartis (prayers) led by women who have excelled in fields such as law, education, and public service.
In a press briefing held on Monday, Agrawal shared the detailed schedule of events, emphasizing the cultural and social impact of the festival. Attending the press conference were prominent trustees including Rajkumar Agrawal, Amita Agrawal, and Advocate Pratap Pardeshi.
Grand Beginning with Religious Ceremonies
The festival will commence at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday with the 'Ghatasthapana' (ceremonial installation of the festival’s sacred pot) performed by Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
The temple's lighting ceremony will follow at 6:00 p.m., inaugurated by Additional Police Commissioner Ranjankumar Sharma. Over the course of ten days, the temple will host several religious activities, including the Shree Sukt Abhishek, Shree Vishnu Sahasranama recitation, the Mahalaxmi Mahayagya, and Maha Aartis.
Women-Centric Cultural Programs
In a unique twist, women from various walks of life will be honored throughout the event. This includes tributes to female employees of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), female HR executives from top companies, female judges, authors, poets, and sanitation workers.
The festival will also celebrate 'Kanya Pujan', honoring young girls from underprivileged backgrounds, and will pay homage to the mothers and wives of soldiers in a special 'Veer Mata-Veer Patni' ceremony.
Security has been prioritized, with 50 CCTV cameras and 25 security guards deployed throughout the temple and surrounding areas. The festival also includes an insurance coverage of ₹5 crore for devotees attending the celebrations.
Cultural Highlights
The festival’s special attractions include a symbolic Shiv-Parvati wedding ceremony, Kathakali performances based on the life of Lord Krishna, theatrical and folk presentations on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, group Garba dances, and a symbolic Ravan Dahan highlighting societal issues. One of the standout features of the celebration will be the adornment of the Mahalaxmi deity in a gold sari on Dussehra.
