Kathmandu, Nepal, September 26, 2022: Bada Dashain, the great festival of the Hindus across the world including in Nepal, commenced from Monday. The auspicious hour for receiving Tika this year is 11:51 am on coming November 5, 2022.
The first day of Bada Dashain, Navaratra, which is also called as ‘Ghatasthapana’ is marked by worshipping the deity Shailaputri in accordance with Vedic rules. Deity Shailaputri is one of the nine deities worshipped in Navaratri.
The first day of the Bada Dashain, ‘Navaratra’ or ‘Ghatasthapana’ falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Asoj.
Jamara, shoots of maize and barley seeds used to be sow in a jar filled with soil and cow dung as per the Hindu Vedic rules. According to Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the auspicious hour for observing Ghatasthapana was 10:23 am.
On the auspicious occasion of Ghatasthapana, Hindus worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals. Prayers are also offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power.
Prayers used to worship goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dashain Ghar, or various Bhagawati temples. During the Navaratri, thousands of devotees in Kathmandu visited various Bhagawati temples including the 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.
