Priests sow barley seeds to grow jamara, the saplings which would be taken as the prasad of Goddess Durga, on the occasion of Gatasthapana, the first day of 15-day Badadashain festival, at Hanumandhoka, in Kathmandu, on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo: RSS
KATHMANDU: Bada Dashain, the greatest and longest festival of Nepali Hindus, has officially begun on Saturday with Ghatasthapana.
Ghatasthapana is being observed by people performing puja and setting up ghata or pot, on which they sow seeds of barley, wheat, corn and rice, at homes and temples in accordance with Vedic tradition.
The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti, which publishes the lunar calendar, has said 8:35 am is the auspicious time for sowing seeds in a mixture of sand and soil in a clay pot.
Personnel of the Gurujuko Paltan open fire in the air on the occasion of Gatasthapana, the first day of 15-day Badadashain festival, at Hanumandhoka of Kathmandu, on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo: RSS
The sprouted seedlings are called jamara. These are offered along with tika on the 10th day, which is observed as Vijaya Dashami. On this day — the main day of the Dashain festival — elders and seniors offer tika and jamara to younger relatives and subordinates and bless them.
According to popular Hindu myth, Goddess Durga had killed the demon king Mahishasur on Mahanavami and Vijaya Dashami symbolises the victory of good over evil.
Personnel of Gurujuko Paltan play mangaldhun on the occasion of Gatasthapana, the first day of 15-day Badadashain festival, at Hanumandhoka, in Kathmandu, on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo: RSS
Devotees with kalashes reach Ranighat to offer their prayers on the occasion of Ghatasthapana, the first day of the Dashain festival, in Birgunj, on Saturday, October 1, 2016. Photo: THT