Source: The Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON, TEXAS, October 19, 2002: The festival of Navaratri, the nine-night Hindu festival honoring three Goddesses is celebrated in grand style by South Indian Hindus now living in Texas. Born in Chennai, southern India, where Navarathri is one of the major religious celebrations, Ranjana Narasiman says, “Sometimes I feel I’m living two cultural lives, and 24 hours is not enough for that.” This comment was made after Ranjana had attended four Navaratri parties and hosted 230 guests in her northwest Houston home. Navaratri began this year on October 6 and is a festive prelude leading up to Deepavali, the festival of lights. It is often celebrated with dances and in Houston over 4,000 Hindus gathered at Reliant Arena for the traditional garba dance. The article says, “In south India, Navaratri is traditionally celebrated mostly by women. Customs include giving small gifts as guests depart and offering a tray of sandalwood paste to perfume a wrist and red turmeric to place on a woman’s forehead.” In Houston, men have joined the festivities. Narasiman, a high school physics teacher says, “She believes that those who grow up in a home that preserves Hindu traditions often carry them on once they are grown — and that makes it worth it for her and her friends.”