Mrs & Mr Rakesh Rajdev (રાકેશ રાજદેવ) - Celebrating The Real Essence of Navratri
Hindus regard the Festival of Navratri with great significance, and it is celebrated throughout India in various ways. The dates of the festival change somewhat each year according to the Hindu lunar calendar. The festival always starts on Pratipada, the first day of the Hindu month Chaitra (March/April), and again in the Sharad (September/October).
9 Goddesses are worshipped over 9 days
During Navratri, nine goddesses are worshipped over nine days. ‘Nava’ means nine and ‘Ratri’ means night – explaining the nine nights of festivities. One of the most significant aspects of the festival is the practice of charity.
People such as Rakesh Rajdev and Rupal Rakesh Rajdev do a tremendous amount of charity work among those who are less fortunate. They are from the Rajkot district of Gujarat and are founder members of 3 companies—APM Capital, APM Bullion, and APM Intl DMCC.
APM Bullion: Physical Gold and Silver bullion trading company located in Dubai
Courtyard by Marriott: Located in Batumi in Georgia, Courtyard by Marriott is Rakesh Rajdev’s new 5-Star (operated under a license agreement from Marriott International, Inc.)
They do a lot of charity work and have an NGO known as Kanuda Mitr Mandal. If you would like to know more about their social welfare work, you can read more at Kanuda Mitr Mandal.
The couple do a wonderful job of organizing special events for small children during Navratri. True, the coronavirus put a stop to many of their social events, but with the world slowly returning to normal, these events are once again on the cards.
The two also like to educate kids about the festival during these events, combining fun with information about the Festival of Navratri. The Goddess Durga is worshipped as the epitome of feminine energy and power, and it is important for Indian kids to know about Maa Durga and why Navratri is celebrated.
Young girls a form of Goddess Durga
Those observing the festival worship the 9 incarnations of Goddess Durga, even though it is celebrated for different reasons in different areas. Because Goddess Durga is a feminine energy, it is believed that young girls are a form of her.
Also, because fasting is the essence of this festival and holds spiritual significance, kids are taught about fasting and how it benefits the body. Kids are taught how to make simple foods for fasting, such as sabudana khichdi.
Reaching out to those less fortunate
So, each year, Rakesh Rajdev and Rupal Rakesh Rajdev organize special events for young girls during Navaratri. This year they planned an exciting day at Fun World amusement park in Rajkot, inviting thousands of small kids who don’t have much and who are disadvantaged in this way.
They were treated to free rides and all the sweets and snacks that small kids love, such as ice cream, popcorn, and cold drinks. They also received free gifts to help them with their education. These included much needed items such as school bags, lunch boxes, and water bottles. The donations were dedicated to the memory of The late mother of Rakesh Rajdev, Vimlaben, contributed to his generous offer.
The kids loved every minute, and some of the little girls did the traditional Garba dance in response to the DJ’s music. It’s a symbolic dance that celebrates the feminine form of divinity. The name of the dance – garba – comes from the Sanskrit word garbha, which means womb. The dance is performed by girls and women in a circle around a clay lantern.
At the end of the event, all the kids were given Prasadi, the sanctified food and gifts were also distributed.
