Maha Astami, Maha Nawami festivals being observed today

KATHMANDU: Hindus across the country are observing the Maha Astami festival (eighth day of the Bada Dashain festival) today by worshiping Goddess Durga Bhawani.

On this day, people offer special worship to the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Maha Saraswati.

This day of the Dashain festival is considered a special day when Goddess Durga attained power.

On the occasion, people perform religious rituals at the Dashain Ghars and armories, worship the goddess at various shrines by offering animal sacrifices and read the Durga Saptashati scriptures.

Devotees throng various goddess shrines in the Kathmandu Valley from early this morning to offer worship and sacrifice goats and ducks.

Similarly, people throng the various goddess temples throughout the country today to offer worship, sacrificing goats, ducks, and roosters.

Special Durgapuja worship and prayer ceremonies are held at the Dashain Ghars. People also worship weapons, vehicles, and machines.

People who do not sacrifice animals offer sacrifices of various vegetables and fruits in place of animals.

Also on this day, a special Kalaratri worship is held at midnight at the Dashain Ghar of Hanumandhoka in the capital city.

Maha Nawami festival today

The Maha Nawami festival is being observed today with fervor by worshiping goddess Durga Bhawani and making offerings.

As per the lunar calendar, this festival is observed on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj. It is also marked as part of the 10-day Bada Dashain festival.

Special worship is performed to Durga Bhawani today on the occasion of the Maha Nawami and the ‘jamara’ which has been germinated is offered to the goddesses at various shrines.

He-goats, ducks, roosters, and he-buffalos are sacrificed at the various temples dedicated to the goddesses. Those who do not have the tradition of offering animal or bird sacrifices, offer the sacrifice of fruits and vegetables to the goddess.

The Durga Saptasati and Devi Strota scriptures are also recited at home and in temples on this day.

As mentioned in the Markandeya Purana scripture, the Goddess Chamunda had slain the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami. So, the special worship of the goddess on this day with the offering of animal sacrifices.

On this day, the security forces also perform what is called the ‘kot puja’ or worship of the armories.

The Taleju Temple located at Hanumandhoka in the capital is also open for the devotees to pay homage on this day. It is opened only on the occasion of the Maha Nawami.

The people of the Newar community also worship Bhimsen, a Hindu deity, by making animal sacrifices today on the occasion of Maha Nawami.

This time, the Maha Astami and the Maha Nawami festivals fall on the same day.