Abhyankar Nagar Durga Utsav marks 40th year in Nagpur with nine days of rituals from October 11

Nagpur: The Abhyankar Nagar Durga Utsav Mandal, which keeps alive devotion and religious tradition, is marking the 40th year of its festival. The mandal is run by the Mahalaxmi Welfare Society. It has lined up several religious programmes between October 11 and 21.

Ketan Thakre is president of the Mahalaxmi Welfare Society. He is also general secretary of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee and a corporator. He has appealed to all citizens and devotees to take part in the festival. Devotees will get the chance to join in various religious programmes at the festival, which seeks to preserve religious tradition and social unity along with worship of the Goddess.

On Sunday, October 11, a procession will be taken out from Bajajnagar to the Sabha Mandap from 4 pm to 7 pm. After that, from Monday, October 12 to Tuesday, October 20, Pandit Nandkishore Maharaj will conduct the Durga Bhagwat every day from 2 pm to 6 pm. Corporator Ketan Thakre has asked devotees to benefit from these programmes.

On Sunday, October 18, an all-night (ahoratra) homa havan will begin at 11.30 pm. The ritual will continue until 5 am on Monday, October 19. On the same day, October 19, Navkanya Pujan and mahaprasad have been arranged from 10 am to 3.30 pm. Through these rituals, devotees will be able to express their reverence for the Goddess and also gather together.

Aarti will be held every day of the festival at 8.30 pm. The final programme, on Wednesday, October 21, will run from 8 pm to 11 pm and includes a procession and immersion. For the 40th-year religious celebration in Abhyankar Nagar, Corporator Ketan Thakre has urged citizens to attend with their families and add to the festivities.