South Asian News Network

Navratra starts from the pratipada date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha. This vrat of Navratri isdescribed as the best vrat of Maha Siddhi, extremely rare, virtuous, destroying all enemies and benefitingall creatures. Since all desires are fulfilled, it is considered a special vow to benefit the creatures. Bhagwati Jagdamba Durga Bhavani is speciallyworshiped in Baradsai. Durga is worshiped for gaining power. Baradsai is known as Dashain, VijayaDashami etc. The tenth festival celebrated as a national festival in Nepali society is celebrated for fifteendays with special rejoicing from the position of Ashwin Shukla Paksha to the full moon. Worship of theGoddess is started from the first day of Ashwin Shukla Pratipada i.e. Badadsai.

On this day, according tothe scriptural method, the ghatasthapana is placed on the auspicious site and the jamara is kept in thehouse. Regular Chandi is recited by continuously worshiping Bhagwati established till the second, third,fourth, fifth and sixth day of Navratri. On the sixtieth day, the bell is invited to worship the bell tree.This should be done in the evening On the day of flowering (saptami), like other days, regular worship ofBhagwati should be done by bringing bel leaves and picking the bel leaves. In the context of Nepal, theimportation of this flower is considered very important. On the same day, flowers are brought fromGorkha Durbar to Hanumandhoka shrine of Kathmandu with state honors, while flowers are broughtinto the house of every Nepali with dancing and joy. Happiness increases when flowers are brought in Ashtami, Navami and Dashami (Badadasai) are special days of this festival.

On Ashtami day, worship ofShailaputri etc. Navdurga, sacrifice etc. are performed. On this day, while worshiping Navdurga Bhavani,nine heaps of rice are placed from south to north and in these heaps, 1-1 goddesses are worshiped inorder from south to north. The first is Shailaputri, the second is Brahmacharini, the third isChandraghanta and then Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and SiddhidatriBhagwati. Similarly, Navpatrika, Janai Supari, Naivedya, Fruits, Bheti, Dakshina etc. are also offered. Onthis day, new weapons and old tools such as spade, spade, khukuri sword, stove, knife and other toolsare also worshiped. Apart from certain places and functions, offerings of Kushmandadi, coconutofferings, bananas, ghiraulo etc. are offered in the front yard of thehouse.

In this process, famous verses like Jai Devi Bhairavi should be recited. But in Sattvic worship, Vali is not used. This is oneof the most important days of the year. According to the date, Kalratri Puja is also performed on thisday. On the day of Mahanavami, daily worship, worship of Bhimsen, Chandipath, worship of nine virgins, and havan are performed. On the day of Dashmi, after completing the daily pooja, special worship ofJaya, Vijaya and Aparajita Bhagwati is performed. This Vijayadashamiis the main and important time.After this, there is a religious tradition of going to the houses of the devotees and receiving blessingswith Tika Jamara. This process continues till the full moon of Kojagrat. On the day and night of Kojagrat Purnima, worshiping Mahalakshmi, playing Kauda etc. with family gatherings and saying goodbye to Baradasai and Kojagrat Purnima, the big tenth festival is concluded.