{"id":9967,"date":"2020-11-08T13:30:36","date_gmt":"2020-11-08T13:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/?p=9967"},"modified":"2020-11-18T15:20:07","modified_gmt":"2020-11-18T15:20:07","slug":"nhsf-uks-locked-down-navratri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/?p=9967","title":{"rendered":"NHSF (UK)\u2019s Locked Down Navratri"},"content":{"rendered":"

During Navratri, up and down the country activities take place to honour Durg\u0101 M\u0101ta, Shakti and Devi. Hundreds dance gracefully around the central picture of Durg\u0101 M\u0101ta during Garba; crowds gather as the mighty D\u016brg\u0101 Puj\u0101 is performed to the all-powerful Mahish\u0101sura Mardini; families create Golus in their homes in an impressive display of murtis. Whether Garba, Durga Puja or the Golu, one thing was certain \u2013 festivities would be bustling with friends, families and community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This year was different. The Covid-19 pandemic all but stopped conventional Navratri activities where students would gather in their hundreds, maybe thousands. With both government and university policies prohibiting gatherings, our students were faced with the dilemma of how to celebrate Navratri.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, staying true to their characteristic trait of resilience and pragmatism, students on Hindu society committees across the country poured their time, efforts and innovation into facilitating a wholly virtual Navratri celebration over nine nights. They used this time to come together, collaborate and create a host of activities to instil and promote the spirit of Navratri.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hindu societies\u2019 innovation and creativity was unparalleled; where an obstacle emerged, they saw it as an opportunity to grow their audience and diversify their content, truly thinking outside of the box. Universities from the North Zone reached out to local pandits who delivered illuminating talks on the philosophy behind Navratri. Acknowledging the toll that social-distancing is taking on our well-being, North Zone universities also arranged a mental wellbeing discussion for their members. In Central Zone, Hindu Societies collaborated for a nine-day long extravaganza, with creative activities such as a \u201cDesign your own Dandiya\u201d workshop and a \u201cAarti Design Challenge\u201d sweeping through Instagram. South Zone universities similarly planned a multitude of activities, commencing each event with an aarti meditating upon Durg\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101, an exciting Zonal quiz and a unique blood donation drive on campus. In London Zone\u2019s collaborative \u201cNavratri Fully Zoomed In\u201d, universities offered everything from a Bhajan night to kick off the week to talks about the diverse ways in which Navratri is celebrated around the world. The activities did not stop just at Zoom –\u00a0 Instagram and Facebook we\u2019re flooded with colourful, bright and informative posts about the significance of each day and the powerful qualities personified by each Devi. Our Hindu societies and National Committee also took part in a dandiya challenge which you can watch below. Twenty-six events were held across the nine nights with attendance in the hundreds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our Hindu Societies have demonstrated that Navratri goes beyond just the gathering of people; the essence of Navratri \u2013 celebrating and worshipping Shakti \u2013 is universally applicable in any situation. Indeed, we can draw parallels between the current global pandemic and the story of Durg\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101 and Mahish\u0101sura; in the face of life-altering upheaval, our Hindu societies embodied the strength and courageousness of Durg\u0101 M\u0101t\u0101, acting as a beacon for us all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the National Hindu Students\u2019 Forum (UK), we have showcased that the timeless values of Navratri \u2013 good over evil, inner strength, steadfastness, invoking the inner divine \u2013 will never diminish, regardless of the circumstance.<\/span><\/p>\n