GEORGE TOWN: Seeking inner peace, keeping their egos in check and striving to become better versions of themselves are among the lessons devotees embrace during the nine-day Navarathiri festival.
For supervisor S. Shalini, the occasion is a time to practise patience and understanding, especially as a mother of two growing children.
Navarathiri, which began on Oct 11 this year, celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
Shalini, 35, observes a vegetarian diet and tries to visit a temple daily during the festival.
“We pray at the altar at home, but it is always nice to visit a temple and take part in the special prayers,” she said when met at the Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman Temple in Lebuh Queen on Monday.
It is the oldest Hindu temple in Penang.
Shalini, who was at the temple with her mother, husband and two children, said devotees would also reflect on the inner struggles they faced in their daily lives.
She said the festival served as a reminder to acknowledge and overcome negative traits, allowing them to approach life with greater patience, humility and understanding.
Medical graduate Dr S. Nheeranjhana, 24, who visited the temple with her grandmother, said she prayed for guidance as she awaited her hospital placement.
“I come here every year during Navarathiri to seek Amman’s (Goddess) blessings. This year, I pray for everything to go well and for the strength to remain steadfast in my faith and find inner peace,” she said.
Temple prayers coordinator N. Thangarajan said the first three days of the festival were dedicated to goddess Durga, the next three to Lakshmi and the final three to Saraswathi.
Navarathiri would culminate in a chariot procession on Oct 20, he said.
“On the 10th day, known as Vijayadashami or Dussehra, the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil, marked by Mahishasuramarthini (Durga) slaying the buffalo demon Mahishasura,” he said.
Throughout the festival, the sarees and jewellery adorning the goddess at the Vasantha mandabam, a small altar within the temple, would be changed daily, with other deities placed around her.
He said a Golu, a multi-tiered display of deity idols and scenes depicting Indian culture and folklore, was set up at the temple for nine days. Devotees could leave their idols there to receive blessings before collecting them after the festival.
Lunch and dinner will be served to devotees throughout the 10 days of prayers.
On Oct 20, a full day of prayers including a pal kudam (milk pot) procession would precede the chariot procession which will start at about 4pm.
The chariot procession will travel through the roads in the Little India enclave before heading to the Penang Port Sri Muniswarar Temple, where an arrow-shooting ceremony would symbolise Mahishasuramarthini slaying Mahishasura.
The chariot is expected to return to the Arulmigu Sri Mahamariamman Temple at about 2am, Thangarajan said.
Although Navarathiri concludes on Oct 20, he said prayers would continue on Oct 21 and 22 as part of ceremonies to “cool down the goddess” after her battle against evil.
A “poochudi vizha” (flower blessing) would be held at 7pm on Oct 21, when trays of flowers would be used to shower the deity.
On Oct 22, a special unjal (swing) ceremony would begin at about 6.30pm in which the deity would be placed on a swing and gently rocked as part of the cooling-down ritual, he said.
