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27 Oct 2015 — On first nine days of Ashvin, the seventh month in the Hindu calendar, Hindus celebrate ‘Sharad Navratri’ – the most popular of five Navratri festivals in a year. The festival, which fell on October 13 and ended on October 22 this year, is dedicated to Durga, the divine mother and goddess of victory of good over evil. For nine days, Hindus worship her nine avatars – Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Prayers are offered by devotees seeking blessings from the goddess. Some devotees fast and others follow a vegetarian diet. In Penang, Hindus celebrate the end of the festival with an annual chariot procession, where the statue of Durga is brought out of the Sri Kunj Bihari Mandir on Jalan Penang and placed on a chariot. The statue travels the streets of the Unesco World Heritage City.
Devotees perform the Dandiya Raas or sword dance, a folk dance which originated from Gujarat, in front of the chariot carrying the statue of Durga. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Volunteers at the Sri Kunj Bihari temple in Jalan Penang preparing for special prayers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Men showering a bull which will be used to pull the chariot with the statue of Durga. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Devotees adjusting their headbands as they prepare to perform during the festival. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Devotees at the temple during Navrtri. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Pottu or a red dot being placed on the forehead of devotees after special prayers. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Devotees carrying Durga during the procession. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
The Durga deity is removed from the Sri Kunj Bihari temple for a procession. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Men with the Durga deity in the chariot. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
The chariot carrying Durga at Lebuh King, George Town, during the Navratri procession. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
One of two bulls used to pull the chariot. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
A devotee praying to Durga while the chariot carrying the goddess passes the area. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
Devotees performing the Dandiya Raas dance in front of the chariot carrying the Goddess Durga during a procession. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, October 27, 2015.
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