Page 23 - link magazine

Celebrating Navratri (Nine Nights) 23
The Swindon Hindu Samaj (community) once again held the annual Ecumenical Parish of
festival of Navratri in October which brought the community together Freshbrook
for nine consecutive nights of prayer and dancing at the Link Centre. West Swindon Church
PH Mehta of the describes the significance of the celebration & The Lydiards
Worsley Road
Anglican, Methodist,
U.R.C., Baptist. Will give YOU
Toothill a warm welcome
Rev. Ian Handscomb 693384 Sunday lOam
Rev. Anne Thomas 496421
Family Praise with children's
St. Mary's L.Tregoze for Covenanter Movement & creche
Freshbrook & Grange Park
Rev. Rob BurIes 870244 630pm Evening Worship and
Communion
Westlea
Rev. John Flory 770217 t For details of mid-week meetings,
Shaw and Sparcells house groups and other
Rev. Keith Boxall 770568 activities, telephone
Rev. Helen Drummond 874372 Rev. Peter Grainger on 490498.
t also All Saints, L. Millicent Church Office, Tel: 873050

MOBILE- OBILE
THE. COMPLETE
MECHANIC
The children in their fine saris and headresses in front MECHANIC
of the shrine at the centre of the hail in the community suite at the Link Centre ELECTRICAL
Navratri is one of the most cel- SERVICE
ebrated Hindu Festivals in Britain G. Stevens Electrical WE COME TO YOU
and in India. It is the most popular Explosion N.l.C.E.l.C. Approved 'Non-Starts -Servicing *Tuning
festival among the younger genera- 'M.O.T. Work .Breakdowns
tion in this country. causes concern Commercial, Industrial •Electrical Faults
It is dedicated to one of the many An electricity fault in October in the & Domestic Installations 'Clutches fitted
aspects of Shakti Devi Dhurga The road opposite the new Tregoze Full inspection & testing
Goddess' or female energy and School, Grange Park has worried of premises undertaken
therefore it is also known as Dhurga local councillor Bob Pixton.
Puja. He was contacted by a resident of Fire/Intruder Alarms
According to the Hindu calendar Bosworth Road who reported an Specialists No Garage Prices or Waiting
the festival begins on the first night explosion. A late night trip to the Please Telephone
of the month of Asho or Asvin. site by himself and Coun Sue Bates 'Swindon 870948
The festival is full of religious fer- established that an electricity cable 876211 ANYTIME
vour and social significance. had blown a four foot wide crater,
It helps one to be in tune with 300 hundred yards away from the
Nature all around and to feel the callers home.
presence of the Divine everywhere. "We reported the fault to the elec- CARTER, GOVIER, READ
It makes life full of variety and tricty board and they were on site
colourful, instead of being con- verypromplty," said Bob. "But you SOLICITORS
stricted into drab, dull uniformity. have to ask why a cable should have
Worship of Deities such as exploded in such a spectacular way.
Dhurga-Puja, Sarasvati-Puja, Lak- The SEB have taped the cables to- Contact us for all your legal needs
shmi-Puja etc. is seeking strength, gether but the wires were left fairly including
wisdom, prosperity, success in life exposed, right outside a school. I
and attainment of truth. can only presume the supply was house sales & purchases,
This festival of Navratri is organ- switched off."
ised every year by the Hindu Samaj An engineer for the SEB said the matrimonial matters and criminal law
and is celebrated at the Link Centre fault had been caused by water pen-
Community Suite. etration. Because the site is under
Hindus from all over Thames- construction and the pavement has 34 - 35 Commercial Road, Swindon
down come each evening to the Link not been completed, it was possible Tel: 617617
Centre with their families dressed in that the cable was not located at the
colourful Indian costumes, espe- required depth.
cially the children and ladies, to par- Bob Pixton and exposed cables DESPERATE? LONELY? SUICIDAL?
ticipate.
The evening starts with a prayer
and 'Aarti' (light a lamp) which con- The
sists of a brass plate or special lamp
with five wicks covered in ghee.
This is followed by 'Garba', tradi- Samaritans
tional Indian dances from the prov-
ince of Gujarat. Everyone joins in You don't have to be suicidal to share
this dance, going round the central
shrine in a clockwise direction, clap- your problems with us. Phone anytime
ping hands, singing to the tune and day or night, or call into
rhythm of 'tabla' (drum). 6 Curtis Street, Swindon
This is followed by 'Dandya Raas' betweeen 8am & 10pm.
the stick dance and finally closing
with 'Aarti' prayer and 'Prashad' the Samaritans
distribution to all the devotees. Of- Swindon 537373
fering of food in the form of fruits,
milk and nuts is called the 'Pras had'.