The Broome Street Temple observes many of the important Hindu utsavas (festivals) that occur during the course of the year. These are joyous and profound occasions, marked by special pujas (worship), chanting and prasad (blessed food). Please join us when you can.
Upcoming utsavas:
Hanuman Jayanthi, Friday, December 23rd, 6-8 pm: the birthday of Lord Hanuman, the embodiment of devotion, service and boundless strength and wisdom, will be observed with abhisheka, Vedic prayers, chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, and prasad.
2012 Utsavas
Maha Sivaratri
Sivaratri will be observed on Monday, February 20th. As an added auspicious occurrence, Monday is the traditional day of worshipping Lord Siva.
This all-night vigil worshipping Lord Siva in the form of the Linga is attended each year by hundreds of devotees throughout the course of the night, and is one of our most special and sacred observances. Throughout the four-quarters of the night, the Siva Linga is bathed, the Rudram is chanted 21 times, and there is kirtan from 6 pm until 4 am the following morning. Please feel free to come and go as you are able, but don’t miss attending puja on this important and sacred day of the year!
Ram Navami, Sunday, April 1st - timings tba: the celebration of the birth of Lord Ram, also coincides with Vasant Navaratri, the spring time festival of the Goddess. During this festival, the portion of the Ramayana called the Sundara Kanda is read out loud over the course of nine nights. The Sundara Kanda relates the story of how Hanuman, through his devotion to Sri Ram, leapt from India to Lanka to find Ram’s wife Sita, who had been stolen away by the demon king Ravana. Listening to or reciting the Sundara Kanda is believed to help one leap over all obstacles in life, and obtain faith, devotion, enthusiasm and spiritual solace.
Krishna Janmashtami: the birth celebration of Lord Krishna – Friday, August 10th
Ganesha Chaturthi: the annal Ganesh festival is the grandest utsava of the Broome Street Ganesha Temple, celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha. September 15th – 19th
Devi Navaratri, Tuesday, October 16th – Wednesday, Oct. 24th : This fall festival in celebration of the Goddess marks the start of autumn, and is also a harvest festival. During the course of nine nights, the three primary manifestations of the Goddess are worshipped and meditated upon. During the first three nights, Durga, the remover of difficulties is worshipped; the second three nights are devoted to Lakshmi, for the attainment of spiritual and material prosperity, in order that we be well-positioned to receive the wisdom and knowledge bestowed by Saraswati, to whom the last three nights are dedicated. The text of the Devi Mahatmyam is read aloud during the course of the nine nights, and on the final day we perform a Chandi Homa, again reading the entire Mahatmyam in one sitting.
Deepavali (Diwali), Sunday, November 3rd: Diwali is the festival of lights, one of the most important days in the Hindu calendar. Symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, of knowledge over ignorance, oil lamps are lit and offered to Lord Vishnu and Mother Lakshmi for protection, and for victory over our difficulties. We celebrate this festival with puja, chanting of the Vishnu Sahasranama, and with Garba, the joyous and celebratory folk dance that originated in Gujarat, and that is traditional for the Diwali celebrations. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains alike.