KATHMANDU: Thousands of devotees are visiting Matatirtha to commemorate the Matatirtha Aunsi and pay homage to their departed mothers at Matatirtha.

Every year devotees pay homage to the Matatirtha Kunda (pond) to mark the day.

According to myth, people whose mothers have died can see their faces in the Matatirtha Kunda on the new-moon day of Baisakh.

It is said that lord Ram, during his 14 years of exile, came to this place with Goddess Sita. Being thirsty she asked for water. As there was no water spot nearby, lord Ram shot an arrow in the ground thereby creating the Kunda to quench her thirst. This day is celebrated by the Hindus as Mother's Day.

People visit their mothers with sweets, clothes and presents to make them happy and get blessings. People who have lost their mothers, however, visit Matatirtha.

Myth has that the soul of the departed mother comes to this holy spot and a devotee can see her face in the pond water on this day. The devotees offer sweets and flowers to the pond with the belief that their mothers would accept the offering and bless them.

Matatirtha area would be developed as a tourist site since the place bears historical importance, the Chandragiri Municipality Chief Executive officer Krishna Prasad Jaisi said.

The number of visitors to the Matatirtha Kunda would cross 100,000 by evening, a local resident siad.

Matatirtha lies some eight km away from the city centre.

Though the water in the pond and the nearby river is not worth bathing, few devotees are taking bath.