We celebrate all festivals for the benefit of senior participants. By being a part of festivals seniors feel closer to their religion and traditions. By diligently participating in all festivals our participants feel that they are carrying the message of the past generations to the present and future, so the culture and traditions are not forgotten wherever they go. Since festival celebrations promote communal harmony, UMAS/MAFS invariably, celebrate most festivals at all our locations. During the month of September, it celebrated Navaratri in the most religious and auspicious way which was certainly enjoyed by our elder participants.
Navaratri in India is one of the main festivals. The traditional celebrations include fasting for a day, or partially each of the nine days such as by not eating grains or just taking liquid foods, in remembrance of one of nine aspects of Goddess Shakti. Garba dancing is a Navaratri tradition in Gujarat. It is a folk dance, where people of different backgrounds and skills join and form concentric circles, dancing and clapping in circular moves, in their traditional costumes. Post dancing, the group, and the audience socialize and feast together.
Vernon Hills Seniors and staff celebrated the festival of Navratri by doing Garbha and Dandiya. One of the days, seniors of Niles and staff came to Vernon Hills to enjoy and participate in the celebrations. Also, they celebrated the festival of Dussehra, Diwali by doing pooja and bhai dooj singing prayers, stories, doing the quiz, crossword, word search.
