Navaratra Shree Durga Bhawani Puja underway at Thakurbari

GANGTOK, 07 Oct: Navaratra Shree Durga Bhawani Puja and Vijaya Dasami Celebration have started here at Thakurbari Mandir from 04 October. Gangtok Thakurbari Committee has come forward to organize the festival in a grand manner this year.
To look after the management of the celebration a sub-committee has also been formed with Mohan Lall Sarda as president and Navin Lamichaney as general secretary along with other members.
Addressing a press conference today, Mr. Lamichaney informed that this puja is being organized at Thakurbari every year in a grand manner for more than 75 years. He also informed about the various prayers and events planned for this nine-day long puja. Ten Gurujis and groups has been engaged for continuous prayers, Ved Path, Aarti, Chandi Puja [108 times in these 9 days], Bhajan Kirtan and other religious activities will be held in these nine days, he said.
Mr. Lamichaney stated that all these prayers are being offered mainly for peace in Sikkim and the world.
The state government has assured to provide Rs 5 crore to complete the construction of Thakurbari which is under process and the amount is expected to be released soon, it is informed. The construction work at the mandir had been started in 2005.

Sikkim thanks the Sun

CHHATH PUJA CELEBRATION AT THAKUR BARI
ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 19 Nov: Chhath Puja, also called Dala Chhath, is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God also known as Surya Shashti is being celebrated at Thakur Bari Mandir from 17-20 November by the Chhath Puja Committee of Gangtok.
Gangtok MLA, Dorjee Namgyal, accompanied by HRDD Minister, NK Pradhan, RM&DD Minister, CB Karki, and other dignitaries joined the prayers in which thousands participated this evening.
The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes where the Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress in Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders informed the president of the committee Kaushal Kashyap. The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days. They include holy bathing, fasting and abstaining from drinking water [Vratta], standing in water for long periods of time, and offering Prashad [prayer offerings] and aragh to the setting and rising sun.
Although it is observed most elaborately in Bihar, Jharkhand, Eastern UP and the Terai regions of Nepal in modern times, and is more prevalent in areas where migrants from those areas have a presence, it is celebrated in all regions and major urban centers in India. The festival is celebrated in the regions including but not exclusive to the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Delhi, Mumbai and Mauritius. These days the community comes together to celebrate this festival which is a good sign of unity and can help promote peace in the whole world, said Mr Kashyap.

Navratri celebrations begin at Thakurbari

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 16 Oct: Navaratra Shree Durga Bhawani Puja cum Vijaya Dashmi celebrations began here at Thakurbari Mandir by Gangtok Thakur Bari Durga Puja Committee [GTDPC]. The said puja will continue till 24 October.
The puja has been organised at Thakurbari for the last 80 years, informed the president of the organizing committee, Kiran Rasaily during a press meet today.
“This Mandir occupies about 1 acre of land which was donated by Sir Tashi Namgyal and earlier the puja used to be organised by Late Rashmi Prasad Alay accompanied by his colleagues like Chatur Singh, BP Rai, Raj Pradhan and others here in the same premise”, informed Mr Rasaily.
This time Mr Rasaily will be donating a statue of Maa Durga which is being crafted by Krishna Nagar artists.
He added that this time the residents of the town itself have organized this puja and the funds generated will be used in organizing the puja next year.
Today, a ‘Jamara’ [maize sapling] was also placed in the mandir. The arati is held between 10:30 AM-11:00 AM in the morning and in the evening between 7:00 PM-7:30 PM. The bhajan will begin just before the arati.
On the 9th day, that is Nawami, a bhog will be organised and 9 under ten year old girls will be worshipped. They will also be offered clothes and some offerings of money.

SSSO to host 3-month long Vasanta Mahotsav in Gangtok

GANGTOK, 24 Jan: Sri Sathya Sai Organisation for Gangtok and the North District is all set to organise Saraswati Puja, along with Vasanta Mahotsav-2012 from 28 January till 29 April at Thakurbari.
Addressing a press conference here in the capital today, the chief coordinator of the organising committee, Kiran Rasaily, informed that the Mahotsav will feature exhibitions, seminars, workshops on various forms of art at the Thakurbari complex.
The Mahotsav is scheduled to be inaugurated by the HRD Minister, NK Pradhan, on 29 January. Likewise, the inaugural tutorial class for the children on various subjects covering academic and art education will also be provided.
A major attraction of the Mahotsav begins from 29 January till 11 February with an exhibition, workshop on drawing, painting and sculpture along with literary session every Sunday. Also, throughout the fest, exhibition and seminar on wildlife photography by Sikkim Ornithological Society, photo shoot session on the theme of ‘Emotion’, Graphic Design and Creative, Applied arts, inspirational songs, bhakti geet, skit competition on Hindu mythology, art and craft exhibition for college students, art and craft events for school students.
From 01 to 21 April, the inauguration of the India International Photographic Council- Sikkim and North-east chapter at Gangtok along with international, national level exhibition of photography and workshop on portraiture, fashion and production, journalism, digital photography, cinematography, nature, wildlife and festivals.
From 24 April onwards, prayers and devotional songs, exhibition of the photographs depicting the great moments of Sai Baba’s life will be showcased and on 29 April the valedictory function will be held.
Mr. Rasaily further mentioned that the co-organizers of the programme are fine arts - Oviya Art Circle, Gangtok; Wildlife Photography- Sikkim Ornithological Society; Sculpture, Craft and Fine Arts- Vikas Kala Akademi [VIKAS]; National, international exhibition of photographs, seminar, workshop by India International Photographic Council, Delhi; Exhibition of Photographs on Nature and Himalayas by Ashok Dilwali [Delhi]; Graphic Design, Creative Art, Applied Art by GM Pahari [Government College of Art, Kolkata]; Literature by Vichar Kala Sangam, Gangtok, Performing Art by Various artists and Sai youth and Photo Journalism, Creative Photography by Third Eye, Kolkata.

Jagannath Rath Yatra take out at Thakurbari

GANGTOK, 03 July: People from in and around the capital participated in the Rath Yatra here at Thakurbari complex today. The Rath Yatra celebration, organized by the Shri Jagannath Sanskrutika Samiti, was also joined by the HRD Minister, NK Pradhan.
On the occasion, the presiding deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Goddess Subhadra, with the celestial wheel Sudarshan, were taken out from the temple in an elaborate ritual procession to the chariot. The decorated chariot was then drawn by the devotees in the courtyard.