In Celebration of Women and Girls

Hindus celebrate Mahalakshmi during the month of October, and what a celebration it is!  Shelly and I were invited to attend an evening of elaborate and beautiful chanting, song, incense, and prayer in our village, Pointe aux Piments, last Wednesday. We learned that this is a special celebration of the strength and power of women and girls, and a certain goddess.  Here's what we found about it:  

"Vrata denotes a religious practice to carry out certain obligations to achieve divine blessing. Vrata means to vow or to promise

A puja (offering) to seek the blessings of the goddess Mahalakshmi, wife of Lord Vishnu, who is considered to be the abode of prosperity.

Part of a nine-day fast, on the day of Mahalakshmi vratam, women take the lead.  As families gather at village temples in the evening, nine young girls proudly sit up front. The vrata begins by first arranging the kalasha or sacred pot. They fill the pot with rice and water which symbolize prosperity and cover it with mango and betel leaves. They then place a coconut smeared with turmeric and vermilion on the kalasha and also decorate the coconut with a new cloth. They place this kalasha on a plate filled with rice. The main puja begins by worshiping Lord Ganesha, who is believed to drive away all obstacles and evil forces. Later, goddess Mahalakshmi is invoked into the kalasha. They then praise torams (a bunch of nine threads with nine knots). Later, they chant the Lakshmi Ashtottara Shatanamam (a list of hundred names in praise of the deity). They then offer the goddess nine varieties of delicacies including both sweets and savories. In conclusion of the vratam, they sing hymns in praise of goddess Varalakshmi.

We experienced a very happy, family oriented celebration with time-honored rituals in a comfortable setting.  Upon entering, we removed our shoes, and were immediately welcomed and chairs arranged for us to sit.  Over the next couple hours, we sat in wonderment at the variety of songs, chants, and sermons given; none of which we understood, but Shelly's friend, Anita, attempted to explain.  There were nine young girls beautifully dressed and decorated all seated in a row---who were being honored in the ceremonies.  In short, mahalakshmi is a celebration of women and girls and the central role they play in the family, community, and world.  Once more, we had an opportunity to marvel at the wonders of the new world around us in our new life in Mauritius.