A festival of devotion and community
The Shree Raam Narayan Mandir in Port Shepstone became a gathering place for prayer, music and celebration during a recent Navaratri programme. The festival drew devotees to the temple for a series of evening services that combined religious teachings, devotional singing and garba dancing.
Navaratri was observed through a programme centred on the nine forms of the Divine Mother, with devotees also honouring her protector, Dee baba. The temple’s programme included daily religious activities and opportunities for members of the community to participate in worship, listen to bhajans and share meals after the services.
Each evening included discourses by Punditji Piyush Misra, while the musical programme featured Vernon Govender, the Sai Bhajan Group, SS Productions, Paul Kalicharan and the Sheppie Nagara Showband. Their contributions formed part of a varied schedule that kept the focus on devotion while allowing worshippers to celebrate through music and movement.
“True worship means conquering inner demons and committing to overcome at least one negative trait by Vijayadashami,” programme director Kajal Mevalal reminded devotees.
Garba dancing was another prominent part of the celebrations, with devotees taking part in energetic performances in honour of the Divine Mother. The programme also included Kanya pooja, a special observance connected to the nine forms of the Divine Mother and Dee baba.
Young people included in the programme
The festival made space for the temple’s younger members, including those approaching their final examinations. Active youth brought their books to the temple, where they were blessed by Punditji during a special prayer to Mother Saraswati. The observance linked the religious programme with the students’ immediate academic responsibilities, offering a moment of prayer before their examinations began.
The temple’s organisers also highlighted the importance of personal reflection during the festival. Mevalal’s message encouraged worshippers to view Navaratri not only as a period of formal observance, but also as an opportunity to confront negative traits and work towards personal improvement before Vijayadashami.
| Part of the programme | Details |
|---|---|
| Religious guidance | Evening discourses by Punditji Piyush Misra |
| Music | Bhajans by local performers and groups |
| Community participation | Garba dancing, prayer and Kanya pooja |
| Youth prayer | Books blessed before final examinations |
| Hospitality | Daily prasadh and mahaprasadh |
Food was served after the services, with prasadh and mahaprasadh available daily. The meals were sponsored by local community members, adding a practical expression of fellowship to the religious proceedings. The temple’s Board of Management and Trustees thanked the Port Shepstone community for its continued support and participation throughout Navaratri.
Community members take part
Those pictured taking part in the celebrations included Seema Rampersad, Nishana Bowla, Kajal Mevalal, Aishnee Gyan, Asha Maharaj, Mala Gyan, Seetha Sukai, Seema Mohanlal and Tilly Ramsingh. A separate prayer group included Ayushi Singh, Neera Mohan, Shanti Ramsunder and Pundit Piyush Misra. Neera Mohan and Mevalal were also pictured together during the programme.
- Prayer: Devotees honoured the Divine Mother, Dee baba and Mother Saraswati.
- Performance: Bhajans and garba formed part of the evening gatherings.
- Participation: Young people, worshippers, musicians and community sponsors contributed to the programme.
With its combination of worship, cultural expression, youth involvement and shared meals, the Navaratri programme reflected the role of the Shree Raam Narayan Mandir as a place where Port Shepstone residents could gather in devotion and community. The organisers’ message placed equal emphasis on celebration and self-discipline, closing the festival with a call for worshippers to carry its lessons into their daily lives.
