Chaite Dashain being celebrated today, public holiday in Gandaki

KATHMANDU: The Chaite Dashain festival, which is celebrated every year on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, is being celebrated today by worshiping Nava Durga Bhagwati.

Vasanti Navratri is another name for Chaitra Shukla Paksha. As in Sharadiya Navratri, there is a tradition of worshiping the goddess for nine days. Those who do not observe the entire Navratri ritual worship the goddess on Ashtami.

According to theologian Prada Ramachandra Gautam, although there are four Navratras in a year, Sharadiya and Vasanti Navratri are important. Lord Rama is said to have defeated Ravana by worshiping the goddess.

Only autumn and spring Navratri are popular among these Dashains right now. Summer Navratri in Ashad Shukla and Shishiral Navratri in Magh Shukla are both endangered.

However, each of these Dashains has their own distinct personality. According to cultural expert Binodraj Sharma, while the goddesses worshiped during these Dashains are the same, the method and process are not.

There is a tradition of reciting Devi Bhagwat and Chandi and visiting Shaktipeth on the occasion of Chaitedshain. During Navratri, it is mandatory to perform puja with animal sacrifice in Shaktipeeth.

On this day, devotees flock to the Shaktipeeth and Devi temples to worship.

Special worship is performed at Guheshwari, Jayabageshwari, Maiti Devi, Naxal Bhagwati, Bhadrakali, Shobha Bhagwati, Kalikasthan, Bajrayogini, and other places in the Kathmandu Valley. There is a religious belief that if one goes to Shakti Peetha and worships and pays homage, one will get power and one’s desires will be fulfilled.

According to an old proverb, the Dashain used to fall on Chait.

However, it is believed that Dashain has been moved to the middle of the year due to drought, change in weather, and many people becoming ill from eating and walking.

Public holiday in Gandaki State

The Gandaki state government has declared today a public holiday in honor of the Chaite Dashain festival.

According to Chandika Paudel, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Law, public holidays are observed in government offices, educational institutions, and public institutions throughout the state.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law, the public holiday was declared by the Council of Ministers on the 1 April, 2022. The state gazette also mentions the holiday.

Every year on Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, the Chaite Dashain festival is celebrated by worshiping Navadurga.

During Chaite Dashain, there is a large crowd at the Shaktipeeth and Devi’s temple.