Navaratri, the nine-night rituals during the Bada Dashain festival, started across Nepal today (September 22) with the observance of Ghatasthapana, marking the start of the country’s biggest Hindu festival.
Ghatasthapana falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar fortnight in the month of Ashwin (mid-September to mid-October). According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the auspicious time for Ghatasthapana this year has been set at 9:13 a.m. Devotees worship the goddess Shailaputri at the designated hour to commence the festival.
Bada Dashain festival involves worship of the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga—Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhiratri. On the first day, devotees perform Vedic rituals and prepare jamara (barley shoots) by sowing maize and barley seeds in a vessel filled with soil and cow dung for germination.
As per the tradition, the germination of jamara is ceremonially initiated at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar in Kathmandu.
Prayers are also offered to Goddess Durga Bhavani, the deity of power.
The festival continues for 15 days. Phulpati will be observed on the seventh day, September 29, marking the beginning of public holiday. The committee has announced 11:53 am on October 2 as the most auspicious time for receiving Dashain tika. -- RSS
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