Worshippers celebrated the Hindu holiday Navaratra Dashara by praising the goddesses Durga and Saraswati with spiritual dancing and songs Thursday at the Bharatiya Temple of Lansing, 955 Haslett Road.

"The holiday is recognized to represent the power of femininity," said participant and temple member Dr. Sripada Raju.

Worshippers celebrated Durga's victory over evil with spiritual dance and songs.

One MSU student celebrated by fasting.

"It helped me focus," mathematics senior Tejal Patel said. "It's a challenge to remember how much they did compared to how little we're doing."

Durga enables worshippers to face the world with courage and Saraswati is the goddess who gives the blessings of knowledge and wisdom, said Sudhakar Kulkarni, a member of the temple's Board of Trustees.

"The goddesses are considered the mother of the universe," he said.

Hindu students around the world sometimes worship their textbooks as a way to acknowledge Saraswati's blessings, he said.

"The goddess of knowledge and wisdom will energize your mind with intellect and knowledge, and the books are the tools of the trade," Kulkarni said.

Community members also participated in the festival with a "puja," or prayer.

"We're asking for a blessing, but at the same time we're asking to remove the hate and anger," said Kulkarni.

The holiday is also a time for family and friends to come together.

"The beauty of this celebration is that the young, the adults and the senior citizens - everybody takes part in it. It breaks the generation gaps and brings all the family together," Kulkarni said.

From 7-10 p.m. on Thursday, a cultural dance called "Tarang" will be put on by students at IM-Sports Circle. "Asha for Education," a nonprofit group that raises money to send to India for schools that don't have enough finances, is hosting the event.

A $5 donation at the door is requested.

Staff writer Maddie Trier contributed to this report.