BHAKTAPUR, March 13: Devotees have thronged the Bhimsen Temple in Bhaktapur on the occasion of Phagu Poornima on Thursday.
Marking the festival, a large number of people visit the Bhimsen Temple in Ardash, Yachhen Bhimsen Temple in Yachhen, and Tachpal Bhimsen Temple in Dattatraya for darshan and worship.
It is a religious belief that worshipping the deity Bhimsen on the day of Phagu Poornima opens up new sources of income and helps businesses flourish.
The festival of Phagu is celebrated by worshipping the Bhimsen deity and eating samaya baji, a Newari delicacy.
Also called Bhising Pooja in the local language, on this day, local women dressed in hakupatasi, a Newari traditional costume, worship the deity Bhimsen, savor samaya baji, and walk around the neighborhood celebrating Phagu, the festival of colors.
Later this evening, the large wooden male linga or phallus, on display at the Tachpal Bhimsen Temple in Dattatraya, is taken around the city, washed in the river at the Brahmayani Temple, and placed back in the temple to conclude this year's Phagu festival.
RSS