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Sat, April 20, 2024

Badadashain festival begins; Ghatasthapana being observed today

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KATHMANDU: Badadashain or Navaratra Parva (nine-night festival), one of the major festivals of the Hindus, has begun today. Ghatasthapana, the first day of Badadashain festival, falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada which is the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Ashwin. On Ghatasthapana, all Nepali Hindus worship Lord Ganesh, Diyo (an oil-fed lamp) and Kalash (auspicious jar) and following Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (maize and barley seedlings). [caption id="attachment_29124" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Hindu devotees and revellers pay homage at the famous Kalika Temple in Baglung district, on Ghatasthapana Day, the first day of Badadashain, on Monday, September 26, 2022. Devotees and revellers throng the temple during Dashain and Chaitedashain festivals. Photo: RSS[/caption] The deity Shailaputri is also worshipped in accordance with Vedic rituals for observing Ghatastapana on the auspicious hour. Shailaputri is one of the nine deities worshipped in Navaratra. The auspicious hour for observing Ghatasthapana is 10:23 am today, according to Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti. On the occasion, prayers are also offered to Durga Bhawani, the Goddess of power. Germination of the auspicious Jamara is also initiated at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar following Vedic rituals, on Ghatasthapana. Moreover, prayers are offered to Goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dashain Ghar to mark the beginning of the Navaratri Parva. There is also a tradition of sacrificing animals while initiating the germination of Jamara. [caption id="attachment_29123" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Hindu devotees and revellers take part in a Navadurga Shovayatra, a procession held by Vindhyavasini Religious Area Development Committee in Pokhara, Kaski district, on Ghatasthapa Day, the first day of Badadashin festival, on Monday, September 26, 2022. Photo: RSS[/caption] With the marking of Ghatasthapana, celebrations and worships take place in the Shaktipeeth across the country including in the Kathmandu Valley. The elder persons offer the Jamara and Tika (mixture of vermillion powder and rice grains) along with blessings for peace, progress and prosperity to the younger members of the family and other relatives, on Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day of the Bada Dashain festival. This year, the auspicious time for receiving Tika is 11:51 am, on October 5, according to NPNS. During the festival, thousands of devotees and revellers in Kathmandu valley visit various temples including Naxal Bhagawati, Shobha Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Guhyeshwori, Bhadrakali, Kalikasthan, Sankata, Mahankalsthan, Naradevi, Bijayeshwori, Indrayani, Dakshinkali, Chamunda and other shrines of Goddess Durga Bhawani in the early morning. Hindu devotees also recite sacred verses dedicated to Durga Bhawani at temples and shrines and their homes throughout the 10-day festival. [caption id="attachment_29122" align="alignnone" width="700"] This image shows the auspicious hours in Badadashin 2022 determined by Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti.[/caption] (With inputs from RSS) READ ALSO:
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