KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Hindu devotees have concluded the Shreeswasthani Bratkatha, a religious festival observed especially by Hindu women, by performing rituals on Friday.
The Shreeswasthani festival is observed for a month every year starting Paush Suklapaksha (full moon) until Magh Suklapaksha as per the lunar calendar.
Hindu devotees observe Shreeswasthali Bratkatha by taking holy baths and worshiping Shreeswasthali goddess by reading and hearing Swasthani stories throughout the month.
It is believed that if the religious festival is observed strictly it will help us fulfill our wishes.
According to the Hindu mythology, during the Satyayuga, goddess Parwati, the daughter of the Himalaya, fasted for Swasthani goddess as advised by god Bishnu, as a result of which she got all her wishes fulfilled.
On the final day of the religious festival, Swasthani goddess is worshiped by offering bread, betel nuts, pan, gutkha, among other delicacies.
Devotees throng holy places including Pashupati, Gaurighat, Ganesh Mandir, Salinadi, Satidevi Temple to mark the festival in hopes of achieving salvation if they visited these religious places during this holy month.
Photos and text by Prabin Koirala.
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