KATHMANDU: Hindus across Nepal are celebrating the Harishayani Ekadashi festival today, the first day of the four-month holy period of Chaturmas with fasting and worship and prayer to Lord Vishnu.

On the day of Harishayani Ekadashi, Hindus plant Tulasi/basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum) on their yards, which they worship as a form of Lord Vishnu for next four months till the day of Haribodhini Ekadashi, the concluding day of the Chaturmas.

The Chaturmas, a period from the 11th day of waxing moon of the month of Ashadh (Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi) to the 11th day of waxing moon of the month of Kartik (Kartik Shukla Ekadashi) is considered a holy period for the worship of Lord Vishnu.

Popularly, the two Ekadashis are also called Thuli (Great) Ekadashis.

"Observing the Chaturmas Brata or fasting is regarded as very auspicious, which should be done after planting the saplings of Tulasi on Ekadhashi", Chair of the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti, Prof Dr Ram Chandra Gautam, said.

Meanwhile, the Pashupati Area Development Trust is providing saplings of Tulasi free of cost for those in the Capital wishing to plant it today.