Hundreds Expected at 9-Night Hindu Festival

A traditional Indian dance festival is expected to draw hundreds of Hindus to the Valley Hindu Temple over nine days.

Navratri, or the Festival of Nine Nights, will begin Thursday and run through the following Friday. It is the second year the temple has staged the festival on such a large scale.

“People come from Ventura County, Orange County. It’s been growing,” said Kenny Sharma, a temple trustee. “There’s something to see every night.”

The Indian American community in the San Fernando Valley numbers roughly 2,500 people, Sharma said.

“This is the only place in the Valley where Hindus can go and celebrate this festival as it is celebrated in India, each night for consecutive nights,” said Kadam Shodhan, another trustee. “We want to provide Indian Americans this opportunity of keeping up the Indian culture.”

Navratri is the longest Hindu festival and one of the most important.

Through colorful costumes and ancient songs and dances, participants tell the story of Durga, the goddess of divine power and radiant energy, fighting the Demon for nine nights before winning. Her victory over the Demon represents the triumph of good over evil.

Durgashthami, the eighth day, is the most significant of the festival, and a special ceremony is planned for the occasion on Oct. 9. Each night’s activities, which run from 8 to 10 p.m., are open to the public regardless of religious affiliation.

For more information, call Sharma at (818) 509-9032 or Bhavna Shodhan at (818) 704-0998.

The temple is at 18700 Roscoe Blvd.