Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin

Sri Venkateswara Temple of Austin

UGADI CELEBRATIONS, Manmatha Nama Samvatsara 

Friday, March 20

BOTH TEMPLES OPEN FROM 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Panchanga Sravanam 7:45 PM - Community Hall.

Vasanta\Chaitra Navarathri - March 20th to March 28th 

Manmatha Ugadi, is the New Year celebrated in parts of India like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. It is the change in the lunar orbit, and marks the first day of Chaitra Navarathri. Ugadi is celebrated extensively with family and friends. An important part of Ugadi celebrations is partaking of the Ugadi pachadi, which is prepared with different flavors, like sweet, sour, bitter, salt, and spice, signifying that the year ahead will be filled with the many flavors of life and we must remember to savor all with equanimity of mind and find the right balance through out the year. Another important part of the celebrations is 'Panchanga Sravanam' or reading the Almanac, for the year ahead, by priests or elders of the family. Priests read and explain the various effects of stars on the social life of people and how the time of beginning of the New Year will affect the functioning of the full year. 

Vasantha Navarathri - Vana Durga Puja in the Homa Kunda:  

Friday, March 20:  9:30 am - 11:30 am, Ganapati Puja, Kalasa Staphanam
Saturday, March 21 - Saturday, March 28:  8:30 am - 9:30 am daily puja

Chanting the 500 Vedic moola mantras of Vana Durga\Durga Devi. 

Over the period of the nine days during the Vasantha Navarathri this will be chanted 21X. Listening to this removes any evil influence.  

Friday, March 27 Durga Ashtami:  Vana Durga Havan, 9:00 am - 11:30 am

To register for the Vasantha Navarathri puja, click VASANTHA NAVARATHRI.

Sahasra Modaka Ganpathy Havan - Homa Kunda

Saturday March 21, 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon.

Sahasra Modaka havan wil be performed on Saturday March 21st , to mark the Sai Temple Anniversary. Modakam is a sweet that is prepared with rice flour, coconut and jaggery. Lord Ganesha is very pleased with this offering and is often depicted as holding a bowl full of modakas in His hand. It is believed that he offers Divine Joy in the form of the modakas to His devotees. Every Year, to mark the Sai Temple Anniversary, 1008 modakas will be offered to Lord Ganesha, invoked in the Holy Fire. Join in the havan and get His blessings for success in all your endeavors.

Register for the havan with family name and star at MODAKA HAVAN. 

108 Hanuman Chalisa Parayana, Abishekam and Archana

Sri Venkateshwara Temple

Saturday, March 21, 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM 

Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa and repeating the praises of Lord Hanuman, 108 times over, strengthens our devotion Lord hanuman and being pleased he grants peace and prosperity to all His devotees.

Lord Hanuman is the epitome of devotion. His strength is energized by His devotion to Lord Ram. In the Mahabaratha, the mighty Bheem was energized by Lord Hanuman's embrace. The Lord further blessed the Pandavas by agreeing be on the flag of Arjuna's chariot and add to his strength. 

Come join he devotees in chanting the challis 108 times, or at least for  part of the time and get Lord Hanuman's blessings. At the end of the parayana, priests will perform abishekam followed by archana.

Chowki - Sunday, March 22, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Sri Venkateshwara Temple

Chowki is a religious gathering where devotees sing bhajans in praise of Maa Durga. Maa Durga is the embodiment of creative power and divine energy. She is the energy, while Shiva is considered to be the conscience. Without Her energy even Lord Shiva cannot function. Devotees worship Her by singing Her praises, seek Her Divine Grace and encourage all to do the same. 

Please join in the bhajans and get Divine blessings.