Dashain festival begins today; 11:46 AM  auspicious hour for Ghatasthapana

KATHMANDU: Navaratri Parva or the nine-night festival of Bada Dashain, the great festival of the Hindus of Nepal, commenced from Thursday.

The first day of the Bada Dashain festival is called Ghatasthapana that falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Asoj.

On the day of Ghatasthapana, Hindus worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (an auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals. People also sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots). Jamara is worn on the Bijaya Dashami Day, the tenth day of the 15-day long festival. 

The auspicious hour for observing Ghatasthapana is 11:46 AM Thursday, according to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee.

Prayers are also offered to Goddess Durga. Germination of the sacred Jamara is also initiated at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar in accordance with Vedic rituals Thursday itself.

Prayers are also offered to goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dashain Ghar, marking the beginning of the Navaratri (nine nights).

The golden barley shoots and the auspicious Tika are given by parents to their children and by elders to their juniors on the tenth day of the Bada Dashain festival with blessings for peace, progress and prosperity.

The auspicious hour for receiving Tika this year is 10:02 AM on October 15, according to the Committee Chair Srikrishna Adhikari.

During the Navaratri, thousands of devotees visit Naxal Bhagawati, Shobha Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Guheswori, Bhadrakali, Kalikasthan, Sankata, Mahankalsthan, Naradevi, Bijayeswori, Indrayani, Dakshinkali, Chamunda and other shrines of goddess Durga Bhavani in the early morning.

People also recite sacred verses and hymns dedicated to Durga Bhawani at temples and shrines as well as at their homes throughout the Dashain period.