KATHMANDU:

Gokarna Aunsi, which is the last day of the dark fortnight in late August or early September, is observed as Father’s Day here in Nepal.

On this day, children show their gratitude and appreciation to their fathers in various ways. Sons and daughters visit their fathers bearing presents, fruits and other stuff.

People who’ve lost their fathers go to Gokarna village, some distance from the Capital, to a sacred shrine of Shiva and worship Gokarneswor Mahadev.

According to mythology, Shiva hid himself in the Pashupatinath forest disguised as a one-horned golden deer.

However, the world suffered, and Vishnu, Brahma and Indra took it upon themselves to look for Shiva. A goddess revealed Shiva’s disguise, and when the deer was caught by its horn, the horn broke into fragments and Shiva revealed himself. He asked the other three gods to establish his horn in their worlds.

So, Vishnu put his fragment in Vaikuntha, Indra in heaven, and Brahma put his portion in Gokarneshwor.

The following day all gods and goddesses descended and bathed in Bagmati river, paid homage to Shiva and established the tradition of ancestor worship at Gokarna.

Hence, people flock this shrine on Father’s Day to pay homage to the memories of their fathers.