Celebration of the spring
Hindu devotees pay respect to Shree Vigraha at this weekend's Basant Mahotsav
There are several festivals in India that welcome the arrival of spring and one of these is the Basant Mahotsav, which traditionally takes place in February.
The Indian community in Bangkok will take part in the festivities on Saturday and Sunday at Dev Mandir, also known as Hindu Samaj, the Hindu temple near the Giant Swing.
This year’s festivities include the display of the statue of Shree Vigraha, the deity form of Shree Rani Sati, on loan from the famed Shree Rani Sati Temple, one of India’s leading ancient pilgrimage sites, which has been the venue for Basant Mahotsav for the last 29 years. Located in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, the temple attracts devotees from all over India who come to celebrate the Spring Festival and pay respects to Shree Rani Sati, the symbol of feminine bravery and fidelity.
The festivities in Bangkok will enjoy the company of Savitri Jindal, non-executive chairperson of India’s Jindal Group of Industries, among the invited guests of honour and more than 2,000 overseas devotees who will be congregating at Dev Mandir.
The Bangkok edition is being jointly organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Association and Shree Dadiji Mandir Trust in cooperation with Dev Mandir. Supporters include Zee TV Asia Pacific, Videohouze Singapore, Sunny Online Travel Thailand, the Saraff Group and Galaxy Diamonds.
The highlight will be a ceremonial procession to welcome the arrival of the spectacular statue of the bejewelled Shree Vigraha decked up in divinity and decorated with 56 bhog (food given to the Hindu Gods) offerings. Professional bhajan singers and cultural groups from India will entertain the crowds.
The 400-year-old Shree Rani Sati Temple in Rajasthan was built in honour of Shree Vigraha, the deity form of Shree Rani Sati.
Sati was born in the village of Dokua in Haryana State in India. She was named Narayani. She was married to Tandhan, the son of Jaliram, the Diwan of the Nawab of Hissar. Long after their marriage Narayani and Tandhan left Dokua and on their journey, a Nawab challenges Tandhan to a combat. Tandhan was killed on the battleground but Narayani managed to fight and killed the nawab.
She then commanded Ranaji (the caretaker of the horse) to make immediate arrangements for the cremation of Tandhan and, as a devoted wife declared her intention to perform sati, the former Hindu practice of a widow throwing herself on to her husband's funeral pyre, which was banned during the Raj). Narayani sat on the pyre with Tandhan on her lap.
Basant Mahotsav has been organized annually at Shree Rani Sati Temple as a tribute to Narayani’s sacrifice and devotion to her family.
BANGKOK WORSHIP
Bangkok’s 30th Spring Festival is on Saturday and Sunday at Dev Mandir, aka Hindu Samaj, near the Giant Swing Sao Ching Cha opposite Wat Suthat.
For more information, visit BasantUtsav2013.VhpThailand.org
