“Very happy…”: Hema Malini after performing dance drama at Nav Durga Mahotsav in Mathura

Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 7 (ANI): Veteran actor and BJP MP from Mathura Hema Malini expressed happiness after performing a dance drama at Nav Durga Mahotsav in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

“I am very happy to perform here today. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was also here to witness the program and he praised me for the works I have done here,” Malini said while speaking reporters after the program.

Hema Malini portrayed the role of Goddess Durga at Nav Durga Mahotsav.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the event and urged people to adopt all the qualities of Goddess Durga.

“Durga Nritya Natika”, a celebration of power and spirituality in the city of Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Shri Krishna, which holds an important place in religion, philosophy, art and folk life, reminds us of India’s rich cultural heritage. On the holy festival of Navratri, while worshipping the nine forms of Maa Durga, let us pledge to adopt all the qualities of Goddess Durga including patience, devotion, power, penance, courage, and religion in our lives,” Om Birla said in a post on X.

Navratri, which means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit, is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, known as Navdurga. The festival is celebrated with great devotion across India, with rituals and prayers honouring the goddess in her various forms.

Hindus observe four Navratris throughout the year, but only two–Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri–are widely celebrated, as they coincide with the changing of the seasons.In India, Navratri is celebrated in various ways.

In North India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, the Ramlila, a dramatic re-enactment of scenes from the Ramayana, is organised. The festival concludes with Vijayadashami, marked by the burning of King Ravana’s effigies.