Navrat fair begins in Bhaktapur, celebrating nine nights of fairs & devotion

KATHMANDU: With the advent of Dashain on Sunday, the Navrat festival in Bhaktapur began.

The Bhaktapur Navratr fair, an annual celebration of faith, culture, and unity, has engulfed the begun Bhaktapur.

This colourful celebration revolves around the worship of the Hindu goddess Durga and serves as a representation of the Bhaktapur community’s rich heritage and customs.

Every year, the nine night fair starts with the fall of Dashain.

Since the morning of the first day, a large fair has been conducted in Bramhayani. The nine-night carnival, which kicks off with Dashain’s Ghatsthapana, is held at 9 Shaktipeeths around the city.

As the fair is conducted at night, locals refer to it as Navarat, which translates to “nine night fair.” The fair is also conducted in the morning, however the evening fair draws a larger crowd than the morning fair. Devotees join in the tole with traditional instruments in the evening.

Fairs are held twice a day, in the morning and evening, over the nine days of Navarat at nine different Shaktipeeths.

According to this, a fair is held at Vramhayani in Bhaktapur on the first day.

The fair is also hosted here on the last day.

According to tradition, the first day is Bramhayani, the second day is Maheshwari, the third day is Kumari, the fourth day is Bhadrakali, the fifth day is Barahi, the sixth day is Indrayani, the seventh day is Mahakali, the eighth day is Mahalaxmi, the ninth day is Tripurasundari, and the last day is Vijaya Dashami.