Nepal’s greatest festival Dashain to begin tomorrow, auspicious hour for Ghatasthapana at 9:16 am

KATHMANDU, Oct 2: The ‘Navaratri,’ a nine-night festival known as Bada Dashain and a significant celebration for Hindus in Nepal, will commence tomorrow.

Ghatasthapana marks the first day of Bada Dashain and falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar month Ashoj or Kartik. According to astrologer Tika Poudel, the auspicious hour for Ghatasthapana this year is at 9:16 am tomorrow.

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).

During the Navaratra or Navaratri Parva, a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Nawadurga, the goddess is worshiped throughout the nine nights, each night dedicated to the goddess under her various names. The festival begins with the worship of Shailaputri and continues with reverence for deities such as Brhamacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalarati, Mahagauri, and Siddhirati.