KATHMANDU: The month-long Shree Swasthani Brata Katha festival devoted to goddess Shree Swasthani, concluded today. The festival began on the full moon of the month of Poush. The last day of the Swasthani fast is also called Sangay.

Hindu women observed the last day by worshipping goddess Shree Swasthani and bathing in rivers. Married women observe a fast to pray for the prosperous life of their husbands, while unmarried ones fast to get a good husband.

Those observing the fast recite the Shree Swasthani Brata Katha, which highlights the miracles of the goddess Shree Swasthani, in order to receive her blessings. The scripture also contains tales about Lord Shiva, Goddess Parbati and other gods. Goddess Shree Swasthani is portrayed as a deity with four hands, holding a charka, a trident, a sword and a lotus in each hand and sitting in the centre while Mahakali, Baishanavi, Brahmi Maheswari, Kaumeshwari, Barahi, Indrayani and Chamunda - surround her.

The marathon worship ended with offerings made to a river. The devotees took a holy bath in the morning and wore fresh clothes, trimmed their finger and toe nails and ate only after praying and reciting the Brata Katha. Large crowds thronged the Salinadi, Gaurighat and other banks of the Bagmati river to observe the last day of the festival. Goddess Swasthani is believed to have helped Satidevi overcome her troubles, who reincarnated to be the wife of Lord Shiva.