“Empowerment isn’t just about women; it is equally about men. Both genders need to find balance and for that, we must also pray to the goddess within us,” said Dr. Supriya Hegde Aroor, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore. She was addressing the gathering as the chief guest at the Navashakthi Celebration 2025, organized at Expert PU College, Kodialbail, on Thursday, September 25.
The programme commenced with a vibrant procession led by Kannada HOD, Karunakar Balkur, along with the chief guest, Dr. Supriya Hegde Aroor, Chairman Prof. Narendra L. Nayak, Vice Chairperson Dr. Ushaprabha N. Nayak, IT Director Ankush N. Nayak, Architect Deepika A. Nayak, and students. Colourful umbrellas and the resonant call of the conch set the festive mood. A beautiful tradition celebrating the new harvest was observed as the dignitaries poured rice grains into the urn.
Honouring the legacy of Navanarishakthi, nine women—including Dr. Supriya Hegde Aroor, Dr. Ushaprabha N. Nayak, Biology HOD Ms. Rashmi, lecturers Ms. Vidya Prabhu and Ms. Rajani, Kannada HOD Ms. Ramya Anil, Hindi lecturer Ms. Ashwini Pai, office staff Ms. Sowmya, and admin staff Ms. Saritha—lit nine lamps symbolizing the nine avatars of Goddess Parvathi.
In her keynote address, Dr. Ushaprabha N. Nayak reflected on the duality within every human being. “The weakest part may weigh us down, yet the strongest part gives us the power to overcome any adversity,” she said, adding that the asura represents the negatives within us and true celebration lies in conquering these vices for the betterment of self and society. She concluded with a reminder: “Discover the god or goddess within—the aatma that resides in each of us.”
Chairman Prof. Narendra L. Nayak engaged the students by asking, “Who among you aspires to be extraordinary and who is content with being ordinary?” In unison, the students voiced their desire to be extraordinary. He emphasized that these nine days serve as a sacred pause—a chance to reflect on the weaknesses that hold us back. “We are the best psychiatrists of our own lives,” he urged, “and with sincere effort, we can rise above our shortcomings and achieve our goals.”
The cultural segment of the day was a feast of creativity and talent. A dance drama by Class XII students showcasing festivals like Onam, Pongal, Deepavali, Gudi Padva, and Dasara left the audience spellbound. Ex-Vogue, a vibrant display of ethnicity and elegance, added glamour to the celebration, with Rishik and Shraddha Ajith crowned Mr. and Ms. Ex-Vogue, respectively.
The programme concluded with the prize distribution ceremony, followed by a grand lunch. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Programme Director, Ms. Bhuvaneshwari.
