KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 3

Bada Dashain, the greatest and longest festival of Nepali Hindus, has officially begun with Ghatasthapana, today.

Ghatasthapana, the first day of Navaratri Parba or the nine-night festival of Bada Dashain, falls on Aswin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar month Asoj or Kartik.

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. Deity Shailaputri is worshipped for observing Ghatastapana on the auspicious hour.

According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, 9.16 am is the auspicious time for sowing seeds in a mixture of sand and soil in a clay pot today.

The sprouted seedlings are called jamara. These are offered along with tika on the 10th day, which is observed as Vijaya Dashami.

The committee has set 11:36 am as the most auspicious time for Dashain tika on October 12 (Asoj 26).

The Navaratra or Navaratri Parva, a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Nawadurga, is worshipped throughout the nine nights, each night dedicated to the goddess under her various names. The festival begins with the worship of Shailaputri and continues with reverence for deities such as Brhamacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalarati, Mahagauri, and Siddhirati.