Rani Laxmibai Durga Utsav Mandal to hold 11-day Navratri festival in Nagpur from October 11 to 21
The mandal's programme includes music, theatre, poetry, dance, a historical presentation and traditional rituals, with artists from Maharashtra and beyond.
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Nagpur: The Rani Laxmibai Durga Utsav Mandal has announced that this year's Navratri festival will run for 11 days, from October 11 to 21. The programme includes music, theatre, poetry, dance, historical presentations and traditional religious rituals. Well-known artists from Maharashtra and outside will perform, offering a different cultural experience every evening.
Performances by Maithili Thakur, the Humsufi Band and The Bansuriwala Collective are scheduled, along with plays, poetry readings and dance presentations. Traditional events such as Ghatasthapana, the Navchandi Yagna, Dussehra Milan and the immersion will be an important part of the festival.
One of the main attractions is the presentation "Panhala Gad te Pavankhind". It will depict the valour, loyalty and supreme sacrifice of Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a trusted commander of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It will recreate the historical journey from Panhala fort to Pavankhind and convey the spirit of sacrifice in the Marathas' struggle for Swarajya.
Vishnu Manohar and Mukund Deshpande will take part in "Khau Gappa ani Kavita". The dance presentation "Uttara" will be staged by Sonia Parchure of Mumbai and her team. "Hi Dosti Tutaychi Naay" will feature Chinmay Sumeet, Amruta Bane, Shubhankar Ekbote and Sumeet Raghavan.
The schedule is as follows: Ghatasthapana on Sunday, October 11, at 7 pm; "Khau Gappa ani Kavita" on Monday, October 12; "Panhala Gad te Pavankhind" on Tuesday, October 13; the Humsufi Band on Wednesday, October 14; The Bansuriwala Collective on Thursday, October 15; "Hi Dosti Tutaychi Naay" on Friday, October 16; and "Uttara" on Saturday, October 17. All of these programmes begin at 7 pm.
Maithili Thakur's bhajan evening will be held on Sunday, October 18, at 7 pm. Devotees and music lovers are expected to attend in large numbers. The Navchandi Yagna and mahaprasad are on Monday, October 19, at 9 am. Dussehra Milan will be held on Tuesday, October 20, at 6 pm. The festival will conclude with the immersion on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 pm.
The mandal was founded in 2006. Starting as a local initiative, the festival has grown into one of Nagpur's major Navratri celebrations, drawing people from across Vidarbha. The mandal has so far staged programmes on historical events and social issues such as India's freedom struggle, illiteracy, autism and child labour. Actress Asha Parekh, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and former Rajya Sabha members Ajay Sancheti and Vijay Darda have also attended. According to the mandal, more than 50,000 people have attended each day. About 50 volunteers, young and old, handle the planning of the events.
Through the year, the mandal also undertakes community work. Volunteers help the Matoshri old-age home near Adasa and donate books and educational material to orphanages. To reduce pollution in natural water bodies during idol immersion and to promote an eco-friendly festival, artificial immersion tanks are arranged in Laxmi Nagar.
Mandal president Prasanna Mohile and the organising team said the festival aims to bring culture, tradition, history, devotion and public participation onto a single platform. The president and his team will brief the media on this year's festival, its theme and the activities planned. For more information, contact Anand on 9923084400.
