Ghatasthapana: Devotees throng to religious shrines

Devotees have been flocking to religious shrines across the country since the Badadashain festival has begun from today. Risks of coronavirus is subsiding.

The crowd of people going to temples and shrines on the first day of the greatest festival of the Hindus has increased this year. It also could be because the government has resumed the public holiday on the day of Ghatsthapana.

It was not a public holiday for the past few years, after the government decided to cut down the number of holidays.

From the first day of Badadashain, special worship of Nava Durga is performed in every house. According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the auspicious hour of Ghatasthapana is at 11:46 am today.

On the day Hindus worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots).

Germination of the auspicious "Jamara" is also initiated at Hanumandhoka in accordance with Vedic rituals, today.