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Matri Puja conducted in VKV Ziro
In keeping the Indian ethos and culture of मात्रुदेवो भव, पितृदेवो भव intact and a bond between parents and children, VKV Ziro conducted Matri Puja for the students of outgoing Class X students which is a unique featured programme of Vivekananda Kendra on 2nd February 2025 at 10 am in the school prayer hall.
There were 41 mothers and 35 fathers and 18 other family members all together 94 were present on this occasion they were honoured and worshipped by their children. At the very outset, the progenies washed the feet of their parents and adorned them in the hall.
Sri Suresh Kr Behera, the Principal of the school formally welcomed the August gathering and briefed the purpose of such celebration for the students in the school. मात्रुदेवो भव, पितृदेवो भव, आचाययदेवो भव, राष्ट्र देवो भव- is our Sanatana Culture, in our family tradition, mother and father is worshipped as Gods and Goddess.
Children leave their parents and home for their pursuits of higher education and jobs and they should not forget and neglect their mother and father. This is a kind of programme organized by VKVs today across Arunachal Pradesh in which students of Cl. X & XII take part and those students are always with the parents and are testimony to upkeep the strong bonding between the children and parents.
Dr Rajendra C Kakade, the Principal of VKV Yazali was the Chief Speaker to enlighten and motivate the students to uphold such traditions in their life respecting their parents. Vivekananda Kendra through VKVs across the nation organizes and conducts such meaningful events for mothers and fathers.
Matri Puja is a practice that honours the eternal and nurturing aspect of motherhood. In various cultures, especially in Indian traditions, the role of a mother is revered and celebrated as one of the highest forms of divinity. It is believed that the first deity we encounter in life is our mother, for it is she who brings us into this world, nourishes us, and shapes our understanding of love, care, and compassion.
The significance of Matri Puja goes beyond mere ritual or celebration. It is a profound reminder of the selflessness, patience, and sacrifices that mothers make for their children. In the Sanatan tradition, the concept of "Matru Devo Bhava" or "Mother is God" is deeply embedded in our culture. This ancient saying teaches us to treat our mothers with the utmost respect and reverence, recognizing their role as the first teachers, protectors, and nurturers in our lives.
Matri Puja is more than just offering prayers. It is about recognizing the divine presence in our mothers, who reflect qualities of love, strength, and wisdom. During the ceremony, devotees worship the goddess as a symbol of this motherly energy. This can be done through various forms of worship—offering flowers, and incense, chanting hymns, and expressing gratitude for the invaluable contribution of mothers in our lives.
In every culture across the world, the figure of the mother is revered. She is the first person we bond with, the one who teaches us our first words, holds our hands through our first steps, and nurtures us through both good times and bad. Our mothers are the embodiment of unconditional love and care. Matri Puja, therefore, is not just an act of adoration for the divine feminine but also a time to reflect on the importance of mothers in shaping our hearts and minds.
On a deeper level, Matri Puja reminds us of the balance in life. The mother symbolizes the nurturing, compassionate side of existence, which is as essential as the strength, determination, and wisdom we might learn from our fathers or other figures in our lives. It is through this balance that we learn the importance of harmony in our own lives and in our interactions with the world.
The phrase "Janani Janma Bhumi Sargadapi Gariyasi" is a famous Sanskrit verse that means "Mother and motherland are superior to even heaven."
This verse expresses the deep reverence and respect for one's mother and motherland. It is attributed to the great Indian sage Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana. The idea behind this verse is that no matter how beautiful, pure, or blissful heaven (Sarga) is, the love, nurturing, and sacrifices of a mother, and the connection to one’s homeland, are considered to be even more precious and meaningful.
Mother (Janani): The mother is the first teacher and guide in life. She brings us into the world, nurtures us, and shapes us with her unconditional love. There’s a deep emotional and spiritual bond between a child and their mother, making her the highest form of respect and devotion.
Motherland (Janma Bhumi): This refers to the land where we are born and grow up. The attachment to one's motherland is a deep-rooted sentiment. The place where we take our first steps, receive our first teachings and feel the warmth of belonging holds immense value in our hearts. The land is symbolic of our cultural, emotional, and familial roots.
Sri Kalyanam Bharadwaj, the Vice Principal, VKV Yazali performed puja preceded a briefing about the event. He explained it was not exactly a puja but an occasion to honour and respect mother and father. Mother plays an integral role, whatsoever one may be in life, no one repays the sacrifice of a mother, this is the time we all will invoke our mothers and show our reverence through this programme. Children prayed to their mothers with tilak, akhyat, flower, diya, agarbati and raksha sutra and at the end of the puja they touched the feet of their parents and were blessed.
Parents and students held the audience with their experiences being shared to all and an emotional atmosphere prevailed around the room. On their experiences sharing, some parents and students expressed that it is an opportunity to take part in such a programme which can remember and light up family tradition and Indian culture with them and they are in fact grateful to the school and Vivekananda Kendra for organizing such type of programme at the need of the time. Students marked their love towards their mothers and vowed to care for them throughout their life.
Sri Surjit Das, a teacher at the school proposed a vote of thanks to one and all who were present as participants, guests teachers and students who toiled hard to make this event a success. The programme concluded with the universal prayer sarve bhavantu sukhinah ……