Everyone is welcome
You do not need to be Hindu, to know the prayers, or to bring anything. Come as you are and follow along.
Annual festival
Navaraathri & Brahmotsava 2026
Ten days of Navaraathri with the temple's annual Brahmotsava
Navaraathri: Sun, Oct 11 – Tue, Oct 20 · Brahmotsava: Fri, Oct 16 – Sun, Oct 18, 2026
Hindu Temple of Central Illinois · 4210 W. Temple Hill, Peoria, IL 61604
Visit the Temple on these auspicious days and seek the blessings of Maha Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswathi
Understanding the festival
What is a Brahmotsavam?
Brahmotsavam is the greatest festival of a temple's year — the days when the deity leaves the sanctum, comes out among the people, and the whole community becomes the temple.
The word joins brahma, meaning great or vast, with utsava, a festival. In temple tradition an utsava is not entertainment; it is worship in motion. Where daily pooja happens inside the sanctum before a small circle of devotees, an utsava carries worship outward so that the street, the courtyard and the gathered families all become part of the sacred space.
Classical Agama texts describe the annual Brahmotsavam as the festival that renews a temple's spiritual vitality. It usually opens with an invocation and a flag or kalasha rite, continues with daily processions of the utsava murthi — the festival image made to be carried — and closes with an offering of thanks for the year.
The deity is bathed, dressed, garlanded, honored with lamps and Vedic recitation, and taken out so that everyone, including those who cannot enter the inner shrine, receives darshan. That reciprocity is the heart of it: the community serves the deity, and the deity comes out to bless the community.
Words you will hear
A short glossary so nothing during the three days feels unfamiliar.
- Utsava
- A festival, literally a lifting up or rising. Worship taken out of the sanctum and into the community.
- Utsava Murthi
- The processional image of the deity, made to be carried, bathed, dressed and taken among the devotees.
- Darshan
- Seeing and being seen by the deity. In a procession, darshan comes to you rather than you going to it.
- Abhisheka
- The ceremonial bathing of the deity with water, milk, honey, sandal and other sacred substances.
- Sankalpam
- A stated intention spoken by the priest in a family's name, dedicating the rite to them.
- Archana
- Offering of flowers and names of the deity, usually in the name of a devotee.
- Aradhana / Arathi
- Offering of lamps at the close of worship, the light shared back with those present.
- Prasadam
- Food offered to the deity and then distributed — blessing you carry home and eat.
- Annadanam
- The seva of feeding everyone who comes, considered among the highest offerings.
- Ayudha Pooja
- Honoring the tools and instruments of one's work — books, vehicles, machines — as vessels of learning and livelihood.
Attending for the first time
Shoes off, modest dress
Footwear stays at the entrance. Traditional or simple modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is ideal.
Arrive a little early
Processions and abhisheka run on ritual time, not clock time. Coming early lets you settle and watch the preparation.
Watching is participating
Sit or stand quietly, join in when others do, and receive arathi and prasadam when they are offered to you.
Photography with care
Ask before photographing rituals or priests, and please keep phones silent during Vedic recitation.
Bring the children
Festivals are how the next generation learns. Children are expected, not merely tolerated.
Full schedule · all ten days
Main Sanctum unless noted.
Day 1 · Sunday, October 11
Navaraathri begins · Kalasha SthaapanaMorning / Afternoon
- 9:00 AM Suprabhaatham
- 9:30 AM Panchaamrutha Abhishekam – Ganesha, Baalaaji, Navagraha, Shiva
- 11:30 AM Kalasha Sthaapana – Mahaakaali, Mahaalakshmi, Mahaasaraswathi; Sri Suktha & Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 12:45 PM Ganapathi Homam & Poornaahuthi (Yaagashaala)
- 1:45 PM Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
- 2:00 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 3:00 PM Kumkuma Archana & Aarathi
- Simple festival lunch – Lower Level Banquet Hall
Evening
- 6:30 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama & Mahishaasuramardhini Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 7:45 PM Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
Day 2 · Monday, October 12
Morning / Afternoon
- 9:30 AM Suprabhaatham
- 10:00 AM Sri Suktha / Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 11:30 AM Nithya Pooja, Archana, Aarathi
Evening
- 5:15 PM Rudraabhishekam
- 6:30 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama & Mahishaasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 7:30 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 8:40 PM Kumkuma Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
Day 3 · Tuesday, October 13
Morning / Afternoon
- 9:30 AM Suprabhaatham
- 10:00 AM Sri Suktha & Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 11:30 AM Nithya Pooja, Archana, Aarathi
Evening
- 5:30 PM Subrahmanya Parivaara Abhishekam
- 6:00 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama & Mahishaasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 7:00 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 8:15 PM Kumkuma Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
Day 4 · Wednesday, October 14
Morning / Afternoon
- 9:30 AM Suprabhaatham
- 10:00 AM Sri Suktha / Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 11:30 AM Nithya Pooja, Archana, Aarathi
Evening
- 6:00 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama & Mahishaasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 7:00 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 8:15 PM Kumkuma Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
Day 5 · Thursday, October 15
Morning / Afternoon
- 9:30 AM Suprabhaatham
- 10:00 AM Sri Suktha / Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 11:30 AM Nithya Pooja, Archana, Aarathi
Evening
- 6:00 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama & Mahishaasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 7:00 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 8:15 PM Kumkuma Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
Day 6 · Friday, October 16
Brahmotsava Day 1Morning / Afternoon
- 8:00 AM Suprabhaatham (Main Sanctum)
- 8:30 AM Sri Suktha & Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- East Sanctum
- 10:00 AM Sabhaa Praarthana
- 10:10 AM Sankalpa
- 10:15 AM Mahaa Ganapathi Pooja
- 10:30 AM Vaasudeva Shuddhi Punyaahavaachanam
- 11:00 AM Rakshaa Bandhanam
- 11:10 AM Mrit-Sangrahana
- 11:20 AM Acharya-Rtvigvarna
- Yaagashaala
- 11:30 AM Ankuraarpanam
- 12:00 PM Dhvajaarohanam – flag hoisting
- 12:20 PM Ankuraarpana Homa & Laghu Poornaahuthi
- 1:15 PM Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi (Main Sanctum)
- Boxed festival meal – Banquet Hall
Evening
- 5:00 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama / Mahishaasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 6:00 PM Saraswathi Pooja
- 6:30 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 7:00 PM Pooja for 108 Kalashaas with Maha Vishnu Ashtoththara (Main Auditorium)
- 8:30 PM Archana, Naivedyam, Aarathi
Day 7 · Saturday, October 17
Brahmotsava Day 2Morning / Afternoon
- 8:00 AM Suprabhaatham
- 8:30 AM Sri Suktha / Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 9:45 AM Sri Suktha / Purusha Suktha Homam
- 11:10 AM Laghu Pooja for 108 Kalashaas
- 11:30 AM 108 Kalasha Abhisheka – Lord Vishnu, Sridevi & Bhudevi
- 1:30 PM Vishnu Sahasranaama Paaraayanam
- 2:15 PM Sreenivaasa Kalyanam
- 3:30 PM Pallakki Uthsava with Garuda Vahana
- Special lunch 12–4 PM – Banquet Hall
Evening
- 6:30 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama / Mahishasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 7:30 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 8:30 PM Archana & Aarathi
Day 8 · Sunday, October 18
Brahmotsava Day 3 · RathotsavaMorning / Afternoon
- 8:00 AM Suprabhaatham
- 8:30 AM Sri Suktha & Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 11:00 AM Durga Homa (Durgaashtami)
- 12:00 PM Rathaanga Homa (Parking Lot)
- 12:21 PM Ratha Aarohanam – Abhijit Muhurtham (till 1:05 PM)
- 2:15 PM Dhvaja Avarohanam – Brahmotsava concludes
- Special lunch 12–3 PM – Banquet Hall
Evening
- 5:00 PM Lalitha Sahasranaama / Mahishaasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 6:00 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 7:00 PM Archana & Aarathi
Day 9 · Monday, October 19
Maha NavamiMorning / Afternoon
- 9:00 AM Suprabhaatham
- 9:30 AM Sri Suktha / Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 10:30 AM Lalitha Sahasranaama / Mahishasura Mardhini Sthothra
- 11:30 AM Archana, Naivedyam, Aarathi
Evening
- 5:00 PM Rudrabhishekam
- 6:30 PM Sri Chakra Abhishekam & Pooja
- 7:30 PM Kumkuma Archana & Aarathi
- 7:45 PM Maha Navami Aayudha Pooja / Samoohika Vaahana Pooja (Parking Lot) – Vaahana sponsorship $31 per vaahana
Day 10 · Tuesday, October 20
Vijaya Dashami · Dasha HaraMorning / Afternoon
- 9:00 AM Suprabhaatham
- 9:30 AM Sri Suktha / Devi Sthothra Paaraayanam
- 11:00 AM Subrahmanya Parivaara Abhishekam
- 12:00 PM Nithya Pooja, Archana, Aarathi
Evening
- 6:15 PM Inauguration of the New Addition to the Temple
- 7:00 PM Madilakki / Vadibeeyyam
- Kumkuma Archana, Naivedya, Aarathi
- Durga Visarjan
Brahmotsava concludes with Dhvaja Avarohanam on Sunday, October 18. Navaraathri closes on Vijaya Dashami, Tuesday, October 20.
See the full 2026 temple calendarSponsorships
Sponsor the Brahmothsavam
Choose a level or your own amount and you go straight to secure checkout with Square. A receipt is emailed to you. HTCI is a 501(c)(3), so your gift is tax deductible.
- A sponsorship is a seva — service offered in your family's name, with a sankalpam spoken by the priest.
- Festival costs are real: priests, flowers, decoration, abhisheka materials, prasadam and annadanam for everyone who attends.
- Please sponsor Poojas early so your Sankalpa can be performed — every sponsorship includes your family in the Sankalpa.
- Sponsors make the festival free to attend, so no family is kept away by cost.
Vaahana Pooja Sponsor
$31
Maha Navami Aayudha Pooja, Oct 19 — $31 per vaahana.
Navaraathri Pooja Sponsor
$151
All 10 days of Navaraathri Poojas & Sankalpas (Oct 11–20), including Sri Chakra Pooja.
Kalasha Aaraadhana & Sreenivaasa Kalyana Sponsor
$251
Sponsor of the Brahmotsava Kalasha Aaraadhana and Sreenivaasa Kalyana.
Patron Sponsor
$500
Brahmotsava (Oct 16–18) + all 10 days of Navaraathri Poojas & Sankalpas. 1-year Temple Patron membership.
Bronze Sponsor
$1,000
Everything in Patron + Monthly Samoohika Satyanaaraayana Poojas for one year.
Silver Sponsor
$2,500
Everything in Bronze + Weekly Moola Vigraha Abhisheka for one of: Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva or Lord Balaji. Includes 1-year Patron membership.
Gold Sponsor
$5,000
Everything in Bronze + all three Weekly Moola Vigraha Abhishekas (Ganesha, Shiva, Balaji) incl. Navagraha Abhishekas & Homas, plus Annual Maha Sudarshana Homa & Dhanvantari Homa. Includes 1-year Patron membership.
Platinum Sponsor
$10,000
Everything in Gold + all Temple Festivals and Nithya Poojas for one year (365 days). Your family is included in every Sankalpa made at the Temple.
Any other amount
Give whatever is comfortable for your family.