Hisar: The nine-day Navratri festival and Shri Ram Katha, held at the Shri Adyashakti Peeth Maa Santoshi Ashram, concluded with a *Havan* (sacrificial fire ritual), *Kanya Pujan* (worship of young girls), *Kirtan* (devotional singing), and a *Bhandara* (community feast). While the *Havan-Yajna* was performed to pray for the welfare of humanity, the *Kirtan* served as a medium to offer praises to Lord Shri Ram. In accordance with traditional rituals, *Kanya Pujan* was performed, and gifts were presented to the young girls. Subsequently, all devotees partook in the *Langar Prasad* (sacred community food) at the *Bhandara* with deep reverence.
Held at the Maa Santoshi Ashram in Hisar's Model Town, the nine-day Navratri festival and Shri Ram Katha witnessed the continuous participation of hundreds of devotees from various regions over the entire nine-day period. Each day, under the spiritual guidance of the *Katha Vyas* (narrator), Shri Shri 1008 Mahamandaleshwar Swami Santoshi Mata, worship was conducted according to scriptural rites, and the *Durga Saptashati* was recited by Vedic scholars. Through her daily discourses, in which she narrated episodes from the Shri Ram Katha, Swami Santoshi Mata inspired the devotees to walk the path of righteousness.
Rajmal Kajal, the convener of the Maa Santoshi Ashram's management committee, stated that on the final day of the Navratri festival, the *Katha Vyas*—the highly revered and spiritually exalted Swami Santoshi Mata—was accorded a warm welcome and honor by social worker Madhur Bansal, devotional singer Nisha Didi, Mukesh Garg Nalwa, Jaiprakash JP, Sunita Agarwal, Ved Bansal, and Krishna Gupta, who garlanded her in tribute.
A large number of dignitaries were present on this occasion, including Subhash Bansal, Madanlal Goyal, Sushil Budakiya, Ashok Bansal, Loknath Singal, Ramesh Chugh, Anil Mehta, and Mukesh Garg. Delivering a spiritual discourse on this occasion, Swami Santoshi Mata explained that once a devotee establishes a bond with the Divine, that bond becomes unbreakable.
Therefore, one should focus one's mind on devotion to the Lord and cultivate a spirit of complete surrender towards Him. She remarked that once this spiritual bond is forged, one's life naturally becomes blessed and auspicious. She further stated that the Supreme Soul (*Paramatma*) constitutes the very essence of this tree-like world (*Samsara*). Consequently, one should meditate upon the Supreme Soul with a spirit of selfless detachment (*Nishkam Bhav*) and affirm: "Everything I possess belongs to the Supreme Soul alone." She urged the devotees to observe the profound positive transformation that unfolds in one's life when one cultivates such a sentiment. During the eighth day of the *Shri Ram Katha* at the Maa Santoshi Ashram, Loknath Singhal—Treasurer of the Ashram's Management Committee—welcomed Swami Santoshi Mata by applying a *tilak*. Subsequently, Sudhir Jain, Pawan Jangra, Kaushalya Devi, Liluram, and Usha Atri extended their welcome and hospitality by offering garlands. On this occasion, a large number of devotees—including Ashok Bansal, Sushil Burdakia, Mukesh Garg, Ramesh Chugh, Binnu Sethi, Subhash Bansal, Sunita Agarwal, Sunita Garg, and Krishna Gupta—gathered to listen to the *Shri Ram Katha*.
Speaking on the occasion, Swami Santoshi Mata emphasized that one should always engage in virtuous deeds, as every human being is bound to reap the consequences of their actions. She further stated that individuals should remain constantly connected to the Divine and continuously keep God in their thoughts. By doing so, one is certain to receive the grace and benevolence of God.