Jai Maata Di Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah 13th Edition (January 2016)

JANUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER

Maa Durga Temple

4/3 Onslow Avenue, Manukau, Auckland. UPCOMING EVENTS !! http://maadurgatemple.co.nz/ Tel : 09 2798108

JANUARY 2 Dear Devotees, Akhand Hanuman Chalisa Paath Jai Mata Di. We welcome you to our Thirteenth Newsletter. We cover and All Saturdays - Mata ki Chowki or keep all of you informed of all the exciting events and activities taking place Bhajan Sandhya followed by Aarti in out temple. Our vision is to create the finest temple in Auckland for and Mahaprasad. Maa Durga Devotees. Join us and support us in any way you can.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

IMPORTANT SERVICES FOR ALL DEVOTEES Temple Timings:

Maa Durga Temple provides the following services for the devotees and the 8.30am to 12.00 Noon and members of the community: 5.00pm to 8.00pm Personal Hindu Dharmic Vidhi (Individual sponsored ritual pooja, katha and ceremonies).Use of Mandir and its facilities. Panditji: Tel. 09 2798108 For sponsoring of Mahaprasad / donations for Mandir festivals please make advance booking with Panditji on Ph. 09 2798108 Programme Highlights: Any enquiry regarding Mandir’s pooja or other services contact panditji. Every Saturday 6:00 PM Bhajan Sandhya or Chowki with Hanuman Chalisa Recitation, Aarti and Mahaprasad THE TEMPLE’S PATOTSAV WAS CELEBRATED BY HAVING A CHOWKI ON 12 TH DECEMBER FOLLOWED BY A HAVAN AND WHAT IS IN JANUARY? MAHAPUJA ON 13/12/15. A HUGE TURNOUT MARKED THE nd rd EVENT ON BOTH DAYS WITH MAHAPRASAD BEING January- 2 & 3 Akhand Hanuman RD Chalisa Paath, SERVED. THIS WAS THE 3 ANNIVERSARY OF THE 14th January – Lohri, FOUNDING OF THE TEMPLE AND ON THIS OCCASION WE 15th January–Makar WISH ALL OUR DEVOTEES, PATRONS, AND SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PEACEFUL FREE MUSIC CLASSES! EVERY NEW YEAR. MAY MATA RANI CONTINUE TO BLESS US ALL. MONDAY FROM 4.30PM AT THE PATOTSAV CELEBRATION PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ARE TEMPLE CONTACT 09 2798108 POSTED ON OUR FACEBOOK AND WEBSITE.

Om asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotirgamaya, mrtyormaa amrtam gamaya.....Om Saantih,Saantih,Saantih*

Jai Maata Di Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah 13th Edition (January 2016)

ABOUT LOHRI…14TH JANUARY 2016

Lohri indicates the movement of sun from South towards North, and entry to Tropic of Capricorn from Tropic of Cancer. It marks the occurrence of New Year and start of spring season as well as the end of winter season. Lohri festival is dedicated to the Sun God and Fire God. Sun and Fire indicates the largest source of energy as well as spiritual strength to which people worship to get blessings. People offer food-offerings to their deity such as peanuts, sweets, popcorn, til-chirva, revaries, gajak, etc. People get together in the evening after sunset where they light a huge bonfire sing songs and dance around the bonfire. They throw some rice, popcorn or other eatables to the fire while shouting loudly “Aadar aye dalider jaye” meaning Honor to come home and poverty to go. They pray to their God Agni and Sun for abundance and prosperity. After the pooja ceremony they meet and greet their friends, relatives, neighbors, etc and distribute gifts, and Prasad. This is followed by dinner of delicious foods like makki-ki-roti and sarson-ka-saag. They also make kheer of sugar cane juice as a sweet dish to especially celebrate this day. They then do Bhangra dance till late night on the beat of dhol and drum. In some parts, a small image of the folk Lohri goddess is made with gobar (cattle dung) decorating it, kindling a fire beneath it and chanting its praises. The folk Lohri goddess is believed to be an ancient aspect of the celebration, and is part of a long tradition of Winter solstice celebrations manifesting as a god or goddess. In other parts, the Lohri fire consists of cow dung and wood with no reference to the Lohri goddess. Some people also believe that Lohri has derived its name from Loi, the wife of Saint Kabir. There is a legend amongst some people that Lohri comes from the word 'loh', which means the light and the warmness of fire. Lohri is also called lohi in rural Punjab. According to another legend Holika and Lohri were sisters. While the former perished in the fire, the latter survived with Prahlad. Eating of til (sesame seeds) and rorhi is considered to be essential on Lohri day. Perhaps the words til and rorhi merged to become tilorhi, which eventually got shortened to Lohri. The origin of Lohri is also related to the central character of most Lohri songs Dulla Bhatti, a Muslim highway robber who lived in Punjab during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Besides robbing the rich, he rescued Hindu girls being forcibly taken to be sold in slave markets of the Middle East. He arranged their marriages to Hindu boys with Hindu rituals and provided them with dowries. Understandably, though a bandit, he became a hero of all Punjabis. So every other Lohri song has words to express gratitude to Dulla Bhatti. Lohri coincides with the festivals of Bhogali and Bhogi. In South India, the day preceding Makara Sankranti is called Bhogi and this is when people discard old and derelict things and concentrate on new things causing change or transformation. At dawn people light a bonfire with logs of wood, other solid-fuels and wooden furniture at home that are no longer useful. The disposal of derelict things is where all old habits, vices, attachment to relations and material things are sacrificed in the sacrificial fire of the knowledge of Rudra, known as the "Rudra Gita Gyana Yagya". It represents realization, transformation and purification of the soul by imbibing and inculcating divine virtues.

ABOUT …15TH JANUARY 2016

Pongal festival is celebrated in southern part of India. This festival reflects the prosperity and marks the harvesting of a new crop. Its meaning is “khichdi” which is made on this day. The festival goes on for three days and the people worship rain, sun and the farm animals without which farming is not possible. This festival is mainly celebrated for three days but in many other parts of south India it is celebrated for four days. The celebration starts on 13th January and ends on 15th January. The first day of the Pongal is known by the name of Bhogi Pongal; second day as Sun Pongal; third day as Mattu Pongal and at places where it is celebrated for fourth day

Om asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotirgamaya, mrtyormaa amrtam gamaya.....Om Saantih,Saantih,Saantih*

Jai Maata Di Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah 13th Edition (January 2016)

it is known as Kannu Pongal.

The first day of the Pongal is known by the name of Bhogi Pongal, wherein the people worship rain god . Crops need water in plenty without which it will not flourish. They worship Indra, also known as Bhogi, for abundance in crops thus prosperity and thereby derives its name. This day marks the beginning of the new calendar in south India. There is a special significance of bonfire before sunrise on this day in which all the useless things of home are burnt. In the morning houses are cleaned and rangoli is made from rice flour outside the house. This rangoli is known as . In the middle of the rangoli cow dung rolls decorated with yellow or red flowers are made and kept.The second day of Pongal is called Sun Pongal as Sun is worshipped on this day. A good crop needs sun in abundance without which the crops will not be good. On this day Sun enters Capricorn sign and Uttarayan begins. On this day farmers gather in an open area and cook Khichdi in a brass pot. This Khichdi is prepared as per the auspicious Muhurta(time). In the pot, the knotted root of turmeric is lept and one side of this root is tied to the top of the pot. The khichdi is cooked from rice and Moong Dal. When the khichdi ferments and overflows out of the pot then ghee and milk is poured in it. This fermentation is considered to bring prosperity and happiness in the family. When the milk in the Khichdi flows out of the pot, it is considered that it will bring prosperity to farmers. The pot in which Khichdi is cooked is called Pongal Palai. Cashew, raisins, salt, black pepper etc., are mixed in it. This Khichdi is called Wen Pongal. Some places instead of salt, is mixed in it and is known by the name of Sharkara Pongal. On this day prayers are rendered to Sun god in the morning. When the Pongal gets ready, it is offered to Sun God along with other dishes, sugarcane and jiggery. It is then distributed as prasad to all the members of the family and relatives. In this way, Pongal is celebrated as a grand feast. In addition, prayers are also offered to sugarcane. On this day fairs are organised in all the markets and people may be seen selling and purchasing sugarcane. The next day of Pongal festival is known by the name of Mattu Pongal. On this day farm animals like cow, ox, buffalo etc., are worshipped. Despite advances in farming technology many of the farmers have to still use these traditional methods for farming as they don’t have much money. So these animals are of great importance for the farmers and therefore they worship them. Along with the worshipping of animals, ox or bull fights and races are also organised. In south India it is believed that an aggressive bull in a house maintains the repute of the house and due to this many people tame and feed the bull in their house and try to make them aggressive. On Mattu Pongal day, farmers tie a cloth on the neck of their bulls and bring them into race track. They then challenge others, if they can control it. Whoever wins is awarded. The bulls are provoked by the other farmers so that the contestant does not win easily. The winner invites the other contestant for a treat. On this day, bullock cart races and ox races are also organised, The owner of the winning bull or ox is awarded. For all this the farmers train their oxes and bulls through out the year.

In some parts of south India, Pongal is also celebrated on the fourth day. On this day the festival is celebrated by the name of Kaanum Pongal. In Kaanum festival, family members and relatives wish each other. The elders present gifts to the children. On this day feeding birds are also given much importance. Many peoples keep khichdi on banana leaf outside their house so that it may be eaten by the birds.

DID YOU KNOW….? ABOUT FESTIVAL Not for the faint of heart, this Hindu festival is celebrated mainly in southern India and involves some of the most intense body piercings known to man. According to practitioners, the more pain you can endure, the more you will be blessed and some even try pulling tractors or other heavy objects with steel hooks pierced in their skin. “Neither seek nor avoid, take what comes.” – Swami Vivekananda

Om asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotirgamaya, mrtyormaa amrtam gamaya.....Om Saantih,Saantih,Saantih*

Jai Maata Di Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah 13th Edition (January 2016)

January 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 New Year Kalashtami 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Hanuman Lohri Pongal Jayanthi / 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Ekadashi 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 Note: For exact dates of events and festivals please talk to our Panditji.

WEEKLY PROGRAM CALENDAR Tuesday RAM KATHA, HANUMAN CHALISA, AARTI AND MAHA PRASAD. Every Tuesday Ram Charitra Manas is read and its meaning and significance is explained. 3Dohas and Chopayis are read. Friday BHAJAN SANDHYA, PRAVACHAN, HANUMAN CHALISA AND DURGA CHALISA Every Friday Devotees sing Bhajans and Kirtans and our Panditji does a small pravachan on religious studies. Saturday MATA RANI CHOWKI or BHAJAN SANDHYA FOLLOWED BY AARTI AND MAHA PRASAD

Comments / suggestions: Email to [email protected] : or at www.http://maaDurgatemple.co.nz/

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Disclaimer: We publish this newsletter only for our Devotees in Auckland, NZ. Articles published provide information of a general nature and is not intended as a substitute for professional consultation and advice in a particular matter. The opinions and interpretations expressed within are those of the author only and may not reflect those of other identified parties.

Om asato maa sadgamaya, tamaso maa jyotirgamaya, mrtyormaa amrtam gamaya.....Om Saantih,Saantih,Saantih*