KATHMANDU: Badadashain or Navaratra Parva (nine-night festival), one of the major festivals of the Hindus, has begun today.
Ghatasthapana, the first day of Badadashain festival, falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada which is the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Ashwin.
On Ghatasthapana, all Nepali Hindus worship Lord Ganesh, Diyo (an oil-fed lamp) and Kalash (auspicious jar) and following Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (maize and barley seedlings).
According to the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Bikas Samiti (NPNS), the auspicious time for observing Ghatasthapana this year is at 11:29 am today.
The deity Shailaputri is also worshipped in accordance with Vedic rituals for observing Ghatastapana on the auspicious hour. Shailaputri is one of the nine deities worshipped in Navaratra. The auspicious hour for observing Ghatasthapana is 10:29 am today, according to Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti (NPNS).
On the occasion, prayers are also offered to Durga Bhawani, the Goddess of power. Germination of the auspicious Jamara is also initiated at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar following Vedic rituals, on Ghatasthapana. Moreover, prayers are offered to Goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dashain Ghar to mark the beginning of the Navaratri Parva. There is also a tradition of sacrificing animals while initiating the germination of Jamara.
With the marking of Ghatasthapana, celebrations and worship take place in the Shaktipeeth across the country including in the Kathmandu Valley.
The elder persons offer the Jamara and Tika (mixture of vermillion powder and rice grains) along with blessings for peace, progress and prosperity to the younger members of the family and other relatives, on Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day of the Bada Dashain festival.
This year, the auspicious time for bringing Dhashain Phulpati home is 9:35 am, on October 21 and the time for receiving Tika is 11:02 am, on October 24, according to NPNS.
During the festival, thousands of devotees and revellers in Kathmandu Valley visit various temples including Naxal Bhagawati, Shobha Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Guhyeshwori, Bhadrakali, Kalikasthan, Sankata, Mahankalsthan, Naradevi, Bijayeshwori, Indrayani, Dakshinkali, Chamunda and other shrines of Goddess Durga Bhawani in the early morning. Hindu devotees also recite sacred verses dedicated to Durga Bhawani at temples and shrines and their homes throughout the 10-day festival.
Usually, Dashain tika offering and receiving ceremonies continue until Kojagrat Purnima, which is the fifth day following the day of Vijaya Dashami.
