KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 7

Nepali Army personnel play traditional instruments on Ghatasthapana, to commence the start of Dashain festival, the greatest and longest festival of the Nepali Hindus in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Ghatasthapana, the first day of Navaratri Parba or the nine-night festival of Bada Dashain, falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada. Ghatasthapana is observed by people by performing puja and setting up ghata or pot on which they sow the seeds of barley, wheat, corn and rice at homes and temples in accordance with Vedic tradition.

Photos by Skanda Gautam for The Himalayan Times