10-02-2004, 04:29 AM
Wesleyan University Hosts Saraswati Puja
http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?
newsid=13012252&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6
MIDDLETOWN, CONNETICUT, September 27, 2004: Instruments, laptops and music textbooks were blessed on Sunday at the Saraswati Puja Ceremony in the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. The Hindu ceremony was held as part of the Navaratri Festival, which was held at the campus from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The festival is a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga. During the festival In India people greet family and friends, enjoy music and dance concerts. And on the ninth day of the festival, Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, is worshipped. T. Viswanathan, who taught at the university since 1975 and died in 2002, developed the festival. Viswanathan was remembered during the Saraswati Puja Ceremony which celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of new endeavors. Dr. A. V. Srinivasan, from the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, led the ceremony. He has been coming to the university for the past 10 years to conduct it. "We've been associated with music program since the 1960s," Srinivasan said.
Obstacles were removed by praying to the God, Mahaganapati. It is a common Hindu belief that a prayer must be offered to the God for His blessing so that the rest of the mission proceeds without incident. After the prayer was given, the cleansing was started with water that was poured into a metallic vessel. Srinivasan and Joseph Getter, who was also leading the ceremony, symbolically washed their hands with the water. Saraswati was then prayed to and given offerings. Sweet drink, water, incense a clean piece of cloth, flower petals, change and fruits and vegetables were offered. Just before the ceremony's end, the participants stood up and turned to their right three times to absolve their sins. The instruments, textbooks and laptops were laid out on the floor next to the altar. The gold and green altar to which they prayed had icons of Ganesh, Durga and Saraswati.
"Offerings are going to be made to Their image on this occasion," Kamla Srinivasan, wife of A.V. Srinivasan, said as she prepared the altar Getter, who is working on his doctorate in Indian music, said after the ceremony that he enjoys the Saraswati Puja Ceremony because he believes he might get a blessing from the Deities and he finds it interesting. He wants to learn more about it, he said. The university also invites professional musicians from India to play and speak with the students during the Navaratri Festival. Indian food is also served during the festival. "To hear a concert by a leading artist is an incredible experience," Getter said. Balasubrahmaniyan, who has been teaching South Indian Karnatak Music at the university for one year, said he's been enjoying himself. "It gives me so much pleasure to be here," Balasubrahmaniyan said.
http://www.middletownpress.com/site/news.cfm?
newsid=13012252&BRD=1645&PAG=461&dept_id=10856&rfi=6
MIDDLETOWN, CONNETICUT, September 27, 2004: Instruments, laptops and music textbooks were blessed on Sunday at the Saraswati Puja Ceremony in the World Music Hall of Wesleyan University. The Hindu ceremony was held as part of the Navaratri Festival, which was held at the campus from Sept. 22 through Sept. 26. The festival is a Hindu festival that honors the goddess Durga. During the festival In India people greet family and friends, enjoy music and dance concerts. And on the ninth day of the festival, Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom, is worshipped. T. Viswanathan, who taught at the university since 1975 and died in 2002, developed the festival. Viswanathan was remembered during the Saraswati Puja Ceremony which celebrates the victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of new endeavors. Dr. A. V. Srinivasan, from the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, led the ceremony. He has been coming to the university for the past 10 years to conduct it. "We've been associated with music program since the 1960s," Srinivasan said.
Obstacles were removed by praying to the God, Mahaganapati. It is a common Hindu belief that a prayer must be offered to the God for His blessing so that the rest of the mission proceeds without incident. After the prayer was given, the cleansing was started with water that was poured into a metallic vessel. Srinivasan and Joseph Getter, who was also leading the ceremony, symbolically washed their hands with the water. Saraswati was then prayed to and given offerings. Sweet drink, water, incense a clean piece of cloth, flower petals, change and fruits and vegetables were offered. Just before the ceremony's end, the participants stood up and turned to their right three times to absolve their sins. The instruments, textbooks and laptops were laid out on the floor next to the altar. The gold and green altar to which they prayed had icons of Ganesh, Durga and Saraswati.
"Offerings are going to be made to Their image on this occasion," Kamla Srinivasan, wife of A.V. Srinivasan, said as she prepared the altar Getter, who is working on his doctorate in Indian music, said after the ceremony that he enjoys the Saraswati Puja Ceremony because he believes he might get a blessing from the Deities and he finds it interesting. He wants to learn more about it, he said. The university also invites professional musicians from India to play and speak with the students during the Navaratri Festival. Indian food is also served during the festival. "To hear a concert by a leading artist is an incredible experience," Getter said. Balasubrahmaniyan, who has been teaching South Indian Karnatak Music at the university for one year, said he's been enjoying himself. "It gives me so much pleasure to be here," Balasubrahmaniyan said.