Such an elaborate arrangement, the festive spirit is clearly felt. The Mumbai Navratri Celebrations are on in Mulund and many more centers across India.
Enter and witness the flower decoration, the decked up puja mandapam, the Divine moorthi of Devi. Swamiji gracing the puja and the Pandits chanting with such utter devotion that you are in no time meditating. It is indeed not the words but the Bhaava - the emotion that brings such experiences. When you are distracted by the world - every day is dealt with the duality, deadlines and conflict, you are further away from this state of mind - a peaceful state of mind.
But it is no wonder you go into such a state of meditation, what makes it possible are the elaborate preparations that take place. Your mind that is captivated with the outwards is gently guided inwards. In the decked up environment, you sit and feel blessed. It begins with invoking the Divinity & praying that everything be alright - to the Divine powers. To the Divine - that exists in the sthaan of worship, the local guardian deity and the Guru we revere. You are gently told to whisper your ichha - desires to the diety. Living a worldly life, you are so caught in things, so you are told - say it & surrender these desires. Then when you have offered it to someone so powerful. The almighty - your guardian; the deity is invoked through ancient mantras that are chanted in a particular laya - rhythm. This rhythm brings in harmony.
We often feel discord and crave for peace. The mantras acts as the gateway. They are chanted with utmost devotion and a bhaava - an emotion of general well-being - Lok Kshema. When one chants with self-lessness and no desire of anything in return, something beautiful occurs. It is often felt, than said - through these chantings you feel something ethereal and feel the lightness. All that weight you carried, suddenly feels lifted as you sit still and soak in the chants.
And then when you are in that state - you are accompanied with the keertan of the Divine. The Satsang team guides you to celebrate the same Divine. How should you express the joy and peace that one feels? The team sings keertans that are often simple names and describing various forms of the Divine. Everyone sing & celebrate.
Of course, you are heart is full. The essence of Navratri and Puja therefore is to feel this. It is to drop that you hold so tight, relax and know it is all right :)
Navratri - nine nights of rejuvenation - should be spent in abode of these Pujas and the chants. Many Vidwaan Pandits conduct this practicing for years and it is no wonder, you see the perfection in terms of what you take back home - a feeling of fullness !