KATHMANDU, Oct 16: The "Navaratri," a nine-night festival known as Bada Dashain and a significant celebration for Hindus in Nepal, has commenced today.

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 Asoj or Kartik. According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the auspicious time for observing Ghatasthapana this year is at 11:29 am today.

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).

The Navaratra or Navaratri Parva, a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Nawadurga, 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.

The Committee has announced that the auspicious time for bringing Dhashain Phulpati home is 9:35 am on October 21, and for putting on the Dashain tika, it is 11:02 am on October 24. Generally, the Dashain tika giving and receiving ceremonies continue until Kojagrat Purnima, which is the fifth day following the day of Dashain tika. 

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