KATHMANDU, APRIL 17
Matatirtha Aunsi, the country's traditional Mother's Day, is being observed across the country today, with devotees thronging sacred sites, families seeking blessings from living mothers, and those who have lost their mothers offerings prayers in their memory.
Rooted in ancient Vedic tradition, the day is considered one of the most sacred occasions in the Nepali calendar. It is customary for children to rise early, bathe, dress their mothers in fine clothes, and offer sweets while seeking blessings. Those who have lost their mothers offer food to the needy and perform ritual prayers in their memory.
The most prominent gathering is at Matatirtha in Chandragiri Municipality, where devotees have been arriving since early morning to take holy dips in the sacred pond and perform Tarpan and Shraddha ceremonies. It is widely believed that bathing in the Matatirtha pond brings peace to the soul of a departed mother. A fair is also underway at the site, and a statue called Sajha Aama - symbolising all mothers - stands on the premises.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah marked the occasion with a message, describing a mother's lap as warm and her feet as sacred as a pilgrimage site. Calling mothers an unmatched symbol of love and sacrifice and the first teacher in every child's life, Shah urged all children to make their mothers proud through their deeds. "The mother and the motherland are greater than heaven," he wrote, wishing all mothers a long and healthy life.
