KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 22
Nepal's biggest Hindu festival, Bada Dashain, commenced today with the observance of Ghatasthapana, the ritual that sets the tone for the nine-night Navaratri celebration.
The auspicious time for the Ghatasthapana rites was fixed at 9:13 am, by the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee earlier. During the rites devotees across the country worshipped Goddess Shailaputri and sowed maize and barley seeds in soil and cow dung to germinate jamara (barley shoots), a key Dashain symbol. Priests also offered prayers to Durga Bhavani, invoking nine manifestations of Goddess Durga.
Meanwhile, at the Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar in Kathmandu, as well as at the historic Gorakhkali temple in Gorkha, priests led the main jamara-sowing rituals. Tradition holds that households plant their own jamara only after these central rites conclude. Similar ceremonies were carried out at Gorkha's Manakamana temple and other major shrines. The golden shoots will be used along with tika on the tenth day to bless younger family members with peace and prosperity.
On the occasion of the Ghatasthapana, large crowds have thronged to various goddess temples across the country, offering prayers and seeking blessings. Various shrines and temples including Bhadrakali, Guheshwari and Maitidevi in the capital; Dakshinkali in Kathmandu; Palanchok Bhagawati in Kavre; Manakamana in Gorkha; and prominent shrines in Saptari, Nuwakot, Doti, Baglung, Dharan, Dadeldhura, Bhojpur, Banke and Taplejung are seeing large number of crowds today.
The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee has set 11:53 a.m. on October 2 (Asoj 16) as the most auspicious hour for receiving Dashain tika.
