KATHMANDU, Nov 30: A huge crowd of devotees is sowing "Shatbij" at Shiva temples across the country, including Pashupatinath, today to mark the occasion of Bala Chaturdashi.
The devotees have been gathering since early morning, mainly at the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. Before sowing the "Shatbij," they lit lamps and large oil lamps last night in memory of their ancestors and stayed awake throughout the night in vigil.
It is a tradition to stay awake throughout the night and, the next day, offer light to the Bagmati River during the Brahma Muhurat. After this, devotees bathe and then sow the ‘Shatbij’ in the Pashupatinath area.
Bala Charurdashi being observed at Pashupatinath today
The ‘Shatbij’ includes grains such as rice, barley, wheat, and millet, along with seasonal fruits like bananas, sugarcane, oranges, pomegranates, guavas, lemons and Amala, as well as various types of flowers.
On the day of Margashirsha Krishna Chaturdashi, it is believed that sowing ‘Shatbij’ in the Mrigasthali area in the early morning will help in the salvation of ancestors and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Those who are unable to visit Pashupatinath often light lamps at nearby Shiva temples and cast the ‘Shatbij’ there. According to the Panchang, the Chaturdashi date lasts only until 10:01 AM on Saturday, after which the Amavasya (new moon) date begins.
