Kathmandu: Ghatasthapana, the first day of the Bada Dashain festival, was observed today in Dashain Ghar in Hanumandhoka in Kathmandu.
Ghatasthapana involves sowing maize and barley seeds in a pot filled with soil with Vedic rituals to initiate the germination of the auspicious Jamara (shoots).
The rituals took place at 11:29 am, the auspicious hour recommended by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti (Calendar Determination Committee). On Ghatasthapana, all Nepali Hindus worshipped Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals and sowed maize and barley seeds for Jamara.
Prayers were also offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power today. There is also a tradition of sacrificing animals while initiating the sowing of barley seeds for Jamara. Also today, prayers were offered to goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dashain Ghar, marking the beginning of the Navaratri (nine nights) of the Badha Dashain festival.
During the Navaratri, 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. The Committee has announced that the auspicious time for bringing Dhashain Phulpati home is 9:35 am on October 21, and for receiving the Dashain tika, it is 11:02 am on October 24.
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