South Asian News Network

Kathmandu, October 25: Nepali Hindus are commemorating the Kojagrat Poornima (full moon day) today, marking the concluding day of the fifteen-day Bada Dashain festival through veneration and reverence to Mahalaxmi, the deity of wealth and abundance. The Bada Dashain festival reaches its formal conclusion today with the observance of Kojagrat Poornima—wherein devotees perform sacred rituals honoring Mahalaxmi within their residences during the evening hours, and maintaining vigilance throughout the entire night. There exists a traditional belief that the goddess Mahalaxmi embarks on a circumnavigation of the world during the night of Kojagrat Poornima ‘to ascertain which individuals are maintaining the vigil on this specific evening’. In accordance with this conviction, the goddess of wealth bestows blessings upon those individuals who are observed maintaining the overnight vigil, according to Nepal Calendar Determination Committee Chairperson Dr Purushottam Bhattarai. As the ceremonial practice of bestowing and receiving Tika and Jamara of the Dashain festival concludes on this day, the Jamara that has been cultivated and consecrated at the Dashainghar and Kot on the day of Ghatasthapana is discarded in accordance with religious customs. Individuals additionally conduct worship at the Swoyambhu Chaitya and observe the nocturnal vigil by igniting the Mahadeep lamp. However, the committee-approved calendar indicates that the commencement of special Tulasi (holy basil) veneration, following the observance of the Kartik ritual bath, is scheduled to begin on Monday. Furthermore, the lighting of the Akashdeepdan ceremony is similarly commencing on Monday evening.