Category: Chinmaya Family Events

Hari OM!

It is time for Navaratri Celebrations at Chinmaya Haridwar!
PLEASE NOTE: Due to space limitations, this event is exclusively reserved for our annual sponsors.

“Nava-ratri” literally means “nine nights.” Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. In the first three days, the Mother is invoked as a powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices, and defects. For the next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power to bestow on her devotees inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-around success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.

The festival is celebrated in diverse ways across India—from Ramlila in Delhi and Durga Puja in West Bengal to Garba in Gujarat and Bommai Golu, the artistic display of dolls, in South India. At Chinmaya Mission Portland, we embrace these diverse traditions and celebrate the spirit of Navaratri together as a community.

Chinmaya Mission Portland will be celebrating Navaratri on Sunday, October 18, 2026.  After regular class, we will be doing child-friendly Dandiya Raas.

Love is not love if it does not serve and sacrifice.
– Swami Chinmayananda

Hari OM!

As part of our commitment to giving back to the community, our team will remove litter from our adopted street—173rd Street from Cornell Rd to Walter Rd—on a quarterly basis. Beaverton City requires volunteers to be at least 12 years old. Volunteers aged 12-17 must print, sign, and bring the waiver form. The link also provides details about the Adopt-A-Roadway program, safety rules, FAQs, and more, which you may choose to review.

All volunteer work done for Chinmaya Mission Portland and CORDUSA counts toward your total volunteer hours. Volunteering not only enhances your resume but also enables you to give back and positively impact the community. After participating in the event, please ensure you get the initials of our Adopt-A-Roadway coordinator for your volunteer hours.

We also encourage donations to support the humanitarian activities carried out by Chinmaya Mission Portland through CORDUSA . These include efforts like cooking and feeding at homeless shelters, supporting the Oregon Food Bank, offering free English Language Learner programs, assisting refugees, donating school supplies, and more. Your donations will serve as seed money for these initiatives. Please check with your employer about matching grants to double the impact of your contribution today!

PLEASE NOTE: No one under 12 years of age is allowed to participate or to be on-site during a clean-up. Late arrival for the event is NOT possible.