Sharad Navaratri: Nine Nights of the Divine Mother - Oct 11 to 20, 2026
Sharad Navaratri is the annual autumnal Nine Night festival of the Goddess. Navaratri celebrates the Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura (who symbolizes ignorance, greed, darkness, and egoism). This festival is very important for us since we are working to build a Temple for Goddess Banashankari (aka Shakambhari / Durga).
The festival falls this year from Oct. 11th to Oct. 20th. We will be offering daily pujas to the Goddess for the benefit of society.
On the final day of Vijaya Dashami, we will be offering lemon lamps for families who sponsor for $108 or more. People are also welcome to sponsor the entire festival for any amount they desire. The offering of lemon lamps at the time of Rahu Kala is a special offering for Goddess Banashankari which is said to help remove all sorts of negative energy, karma, curses, and the effects of malefic Planets. This offering is only made in the sacred space of a Temple and can be dangerous if people attempt to offer at home.
Donations help us to purchase the necessary puja offerings, and they help us to be able to pay down our debts and to repair the collapsing foundation so that we can again safely welcome people to the Temple space for pujas and darshan of the Deities. We need around $15,00 dollars to pay down our loans for previous repairs, and we need to raise an estimated $20,000 to repair the collapsing foundation. Your generous donations help us to accomplish the needed repairs so that we can reopen to the public.
Donation to a Temple helps open an energetic channel between you and the Temple, helping you to receive greater blessings from the pujas performed their. We will include the provided names of all family members of sponsors in our puja sankalpas - to specifically notify the Devas that prayers are being offered for you. All of our pujas are performed for loka kalyanam (the welfare of the entire world). Sponsoring the ceremonies helps to connect you to the healing energy being generated through the offerings and recitations of Vedic mantras here.