Risshi Panchami today, large crowd at Risheshwar temple in Teku

KATHMANDU: Rishi Panchami, which falls on Bhadra Shukla Panchami, is observed across the country today.

On the day of Rishi Panchami, a large crowd gathers at the Risheshwar temple in Teku, Kathmandu.

Nepali women are commemorating Sapta Rishi with Arundhati today. Women rise early this morning to bathe in order to complete the Haritalika fast of Monday, practice religious rites such as Godan and Purnapatra, visit nearby rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, brush their teeth with 365 datuns, apps at ly cow dung, mud, and ashes, and bathe.

Although there is a classical word that fast and worship of Haritalika (Teej) should be done by both men and women, Rishi Panchami is said to be done only for women. It is a religious belief that if there is any error during Rajashwala (menstruation), worshiping Sapta Rishi along with Arundhati today on Rishi Panchami will get rid of it.

It is believed that a woman is purified by taking a bath on the first day of her menstruation, Chandalni on the second day, Brahmaghatini on the second day, Dhobini on the third day and bathing on the fourth day.

For this reason, there is a classical saying that on this day taking Panchagavya after taking bath using datun, cow dung, mud and ashes will remove the dosha of untouchability.

After bathing in this way, Arundhati along with Atri, Gautama, Bharadwaja, Jamadagni, Vashishtha, Kashyap and Vishwamitra are worshipped. Which is said to worship Rishi Panchami.

Today’s Panchami is known as Rishi Panchami since it is the fifth day of Sapta Rishi worship.

Today, there is a large number of ardent female devotees worshiping at the Risheshwar Temple in Kathmandu, Mulpani, and other locations throughout the country.