Devotees throng to temple sowing Satbeej (photos)

KATHMANDU: Every year on the day of Margashirshakrishna Chaturdashi, seven grains (also known as Satbeej) are thrown at pagodas around the country, notably Pashupatinath, to wish for the departed ancestors’s good fortune.

Devotees sow Satbeej on Monday morning in commemoration of their ancestors after spending the entire night on Sunday with oil lamps.

Every year, people from all across the country flock to Pashupatinath to celebrate the Balachaturdashi festival on Margashirsha Krishna Chaturdashi.

Devotees who are unable to go to Pashupatinath perform Mahadeepdan and sow Shatabeej at the Shivalaya near their houses beginning on the evening of Trayodashi.

Devotees from all across the country flock to the capital beginning early in the morning of Krishna Trayodashi, and the Pashupati neighborhood is crowded.

Devotees from all over the country used to swarm around Pashupati from early in the morning to obstruct the way to ignite the oil lamp.

As it is winter, the Pashupati Area Development Fund has stated that tents and other accommodations have been made.

To wish for the eternal peace of the deceased souls in their family, shatbees are sowed at 108 Shivlings, Kailash, Suryaghat, Gaurighat, Aryaghat, Guhyeshwari, Pashupati, Mrigasthali, Vishwarup, and Kiranteshwar, among other places.

Devotees spend the night before Balachaturdashi, on Margashirsha Krishna Trayodashi, sitting on the Pashupatinath temple and performing hymns and folk tableaux in the name of the departed soul.

Even though it is called Shatbeej, at present, after sowing Saptbees (rice, barley, sesame, wheat, gram, corn, foxtail millet i.e. kaguno) near Ganesha, the statue of Ganesha is shaken and shouting in a loud voice so that the departed soul can receive the message.