As the Hindu community continues to celebrate the occasion of Nau Raatri, one spiritual leader believes there is a thirst for devotion.
Thousands of devotees have been visiting the Ganesh Utsav Foundation in Otaheite, where celebrations are being held.
On Night 6, dressed in red, the colour of the night, they sang bhajans, recited mantras, and made their offerings to Mother Durga.
Speaking in an interview with TTT News, the Foundation’s Spiritual Leader, Pundit Sunil Seetahal Maharaj, said during this time, devotees celebrate motherhood and divinity through mothers, sisters, daughters, and the womenfolk of society. He also explained the significance of the colour red.
“The colour is symbolic of the energy. And energy, even human beings, they give off different energies. When we worship the Devi in these nine days, each day a different colour is used to represent the energy that she gives off. Red is symbolic of power and strength and vigour and vitality. One of her names is Veera Devi. Veer means that she is full of power. Hanumanji is called Veera Hanumana as well. And so Veer means power. Today, we will worship the Devi in her most powerful form.”
Pundit Seetahal Maharaj said thousands of devotees have visited the temple since the start of celebrations, and it shows that there is a craving for devotion, especially with what is taking place around the globe.
“The Devi came this time, riding on what is called a palanquin. She is being carried and coming on this vehicle, choosing this mode to come. It is symbolic of warfare, and it is symbolic of turbulence, and in a time now where there is a lot of war and fighting happening, she came with this appearance. But the Devi Bhagwat says that she is going to leave in 2026. She is going to leave riding on an elephant, and the elephant is the animal that symbolises prosperity and fulfilment and positivity and healing and all that is good.”
The Foundation’s Spiritual Leader took the time to recognise the farmers of T&T and paid tribute to their contributions.
“I have had the privilege, along with a handful of members of my group, to go to the market, especially the wholesale market, in the wee hours of the morning, and when we see how hard they work, and when we see the hours that they put in, and when we see the dedication, and when we see our mothers carrying the baskets on their heads while many people are sleeping, you see, people see the fruit of the labour, but they really do not take time to acknowledge the labour that goes behind the fruit. And I thought that it was fit that we must serenade them, because they are very hard workers.”
Pundit Seetahal Maharaj also acknowledged women in society, saying they are stronger than they think they are. He reminded them that they are the upholders of dharma and of our existence.