Seeking Blessings
GHATASTHAPANA, the first day of Dashain, the biggest festival of the Nepalese people was
observed the other day with great enthusiasm. The sunny sky joined forces with the
festivity which was in the air. The fifteen-day long festival has been observed since time
immemorial. Though there may be many stories of nature surrounding the celebration of the
festival. Ghatasthapana is the day when barley is planted in clean sand brought from
rivers. The celebration has begun will continue for a full fortnight. Goddess Durga is
worshipped during the occasion known as Nava Ratri. The shrines of Goddess Durga Bhawani
will see long serpentine queues of devotees waiting for their turn to pay obeisance to the
Goddess the source of all power. It was her act of defeating the evil forces that saved
mankind from a crisis. It is the essence. The evil is always defeated in the end and the
good prevails. The lesson one has to learn is that only good acts lead to better relations
among the human beings.
Dashain is also a time for reunion of those who go far from their homes on various
purposes. At present though there are problems but with the blessings of Goddess Durga
everything will turn out to be fine but devotion and dedication for the good must be
present. Some misguided lot have resorted to violence. But it cannot be an answer to the
other problems that the people and the country are going through. It is unity and love
that must exist among all the people. This great festival must make everyone realise that
we all must live in peace. When it is a time to forget our past animosities and begin a
new phase in life, there is always a ground to sort out our differences. In fact, the
message goes out every year but gets lost on people who have no respect for other people's
life and dignity. One hopes that this Dashain, an auspicious occasion, reason may rise
among all for greater camaraderie. It is a time for all to look for a better future now.
Hopes are back because of the silver lining that has just emerged.
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