KATHMANDU: Hindus throughout the country are observing the ninth day of the ten-day-long Bada Dashain festival as ‘Maha Nawami’ today by worshipping Goddess Durga Bhawani and making offerings. Maha Nawami falls on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj as per the lunar calendar. Devotees attend special worship of Durga Bhawani today. The 'jamara', which has been germinated, is offered to the Goddess at various shrines. Billy goats, ducks, roosters and male buffalos are sacrificed at various temples dedicated to goddesses. Those who do not have the tradition of offering animal or bird sacrifices offer fruits and vegetables as sacrifice to the goddess. The Durga Saptasati and Devi Stotra scriptures are also recited at home and in temples on this day. As mentioned in the Markandeya Purana scripture, the Goddess Chamunda had slain the demon Raktabij on the day of Maha Nawami. So, the special worship of the goddess is performed on this day. On this day, the security forces also perform what is called the “kot puja' or worship of the armouries. Taleju Temple located at Hanumandhoka in the capital city is also opened for the devotees to pay homage on this day. The temple is opened only on the occasion of Maha Nawami. People from the Newar community also worship Bhimsen, a Hindu deity, on the day of Maha Nawami.