Shri Kutchi Lohana Mahajan- Mulund Celebrate Navratri
This year, Shri Kutchi Lohana Mahajan- Mulund had organised a grand Garba programme from 7 p.m. till late night which had commenced with the traditional Aarti for its community members to celebrate the festive occasion of Navratri. Thereafter, a Garba competition was held between 7 p.m. and 9.15 p.m. daily. Subsequently, pooja was performed at 9.30 p.m. and the second Aarti was performed at 10.30 p.m. where after another round of Garba ensued. A unique feature of this event was that four couples could participate in the pooja ceremonies.
On Thursday, Sept. 3rd evening an Aarti competition was held which saw 100 competitors vying for eleven prizes offered. The judges, Smt. Hansa Karia and Mohanbhai Dodecha did a commendable job selecting the winners.
On the 7th day of Navratri, specially-abled children played the Raas-Garba in the mandap erected for the Devi where an Aarti was performed. Mahajanshri distributed sets and food packets to these children. Gifts were offered to the children, courtesy Hiralalbhai Mrug. As usual, cash prizes were also given to 8 kids on this occasion as also gift vouchers, courtesy Impulse.
Sunday, the 8th day of Navratri witnessed a Havan ceremony to the chants of the holy shlokas at 3.30 p.m. At 7 p.m. the same day coconuts were offered to the Devi and 151 young virgins were invited for the pooja, who were presented gifts and whose blessings were sought by the Trustees and others who had participated in the pooja. This evening saw a jam-packed Mahajanwadi hall. BJP’s candidate Shri Mihir Kotecha also sought Devi’s blessings and pooja was also performed by him honouring these virgins. Nirmal Thakkar enthralled the gathering with his golden voice and made it a memorable evening for which he was felicitated with a coconut and a shawl by the Trustees.
On the 9th day, as per routine, there were Garba rounds. Free meals were provided on all the Navratri days.
At 10.30 p.m. on Dussehra, the Garba Visarjan programme commenced. Special prizes were awarded to all those who had participated in the Garbas on all the 10 days ending with Dussehra. Further, the staff of Lohana Mahajanwadi were also felicitated which was unique as it was the first time such an honour was bestowed on the staff, thereby motivating them.
During this Navratri festival, Member of Parliament Manoj Kotak, Corporator Samita Kamble, Mihir Kotecha made their presence felt amongst other eminent personalities and praised the efforts of the Kutchi Lohana Mahajanwadi. Congress Party’s Charan Singh Sapra and Govind Singh also attended this event. Social Activist Arun Bhinde, though indisposed, made it a point to attend the festivities on the last day of Navratri. A few eminent persons had also praised the success of this event through letters. The immense efforts and personal contributions of the Kutchi Lohana MahajanTrustees and the Ad hoc Committee members, ably supported by innumerable participants have gone to make the event a stupendous success. The judges for the competitions throughout Navratri, Deepa Kothari and Sona Somaiya did an excellent job in their capacity as judges, very ably supported by the Trustees’ wives Bindu Thakkar and Jyotiben Chande with Dharmishtha Mahidhar. The judge for the last day of Navratri, Sushma Thakkar also did a commendable job. This unique Navratri celebration saw the immense contribution of the Ad hoc Committee Members, Girishbhai Kothari, Shamjibhai Bhagde and Bharat Mahidhar along with Nitin Pandhi and Chandresh Majethia to make the festival a resounding success.
On Oct. 13, 2019 i.e. on Sharadpurnima, a Satyanarayan Pooja will be held at 4 p.m. when all the members of the Samaj have been cordially invited to attend. On that day, around 7 p.m., prasad will be offered to all, followed by a round of Garba.
It is with the co-operation of our well-wishers and dear Samaj members that such a unique and grand event will continue to be held and more and more people will be attracted to the Kutchi Lohana Mahajanwadi in the years to come is the fervent wish of Managing Trustee Shrimati Mayaben Kothari on behalf of the Trust Mandal.
It would be pertinent to note that the entire funding of the Navratri festival was through individual sponsors and donors and the Kutchi Lohana Mahajanwadi has not contributed financially whatsoever. Individual sponsors will be felicitated on the auspicious occasion of Sharad Poornima.
