Dashain: Maha Navami being observed today

KATHMANDU: Navami is the Sanskrit word for “nine”, and is the ninth day in the lunar fortnight (Paksha) of the Hindu calendar.

Each month has two Navami days, being the ninth day of the “bright” (Shukla) and of the “dark” (Krishna) fortnights respectively. Thus Navami occurs on the ninth and the twenty-fourth day of each month.

Today, the Maha Navami festival is celebrated by paying special homage to Goddess Durga.

According to the lunar calendar, the day is observed on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj.

At various temples, “Jamara,” which is planted for germination on the day of Ghatasthapana, the first day of the ten-day Dashain celebration, is presented to the Goddesses.

Today, billy goats, ducks, pigeons, and he-buffalos are sacrificed at the Goddess temples at Dashainghar and Kota as well as other places of special reverence.

Similar to this, today people chant the Devi Stotra and Durga Saptashati at home and in various shrines.

A large number of devotees gather at various shrines of the country to perform worship today, the last day of Navaratra. On this day, security forces also perform kot puja or worship of armories.

Similarly, the Taleju temple located at Hanumandhoka in the federal capital is also opened for devotees to pay homage on this day.