Day one of Dashain: Worship of Shailaputri & Jamara preparation begins (photos)
On this occasion, a band from the Nepal Army played auspicious tunes, and gunfire salutes were fired to mark the event.
KATHMANDU: Kathmandu’s Hanuman Dhoka has officially celebrated the Ghatasthapana ceremony at the Dashain House, where the jamara (barley shoots) was placed with Vedic chanting at 9:16 AM.
On this occasion, a band from the Nepal Army played auspicious tunes, and gunfire salutes were fired to mark the event.
It is a tradition to plant jamara in homes on the first day of Dashain during the Ghatasthapana ceremony.
Early in the morning, devotees gather sand or soil from a nearby river or sacred site, which is then smeared with cow dung in the room or Dashain House where the jamara is sown.
During the Ghatasthapana ceremony, a lamp, pot, and idol of Lord Ganesha are ceremoniously installed in the worship room or Dashain House, and the goddess Durga is invoked with proper rituals for worship.
Throughout the nine nights of Navaratri, three forms of Durga—Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Mahasaraswati—are worshiped with reverence.
On the first day of Navaratri, devotees worship Shailputri, followed by Brahmacharini on the second day, Chandraghanta on the third, Kushmanda on the fourth, Skandamata on the fifth, Katyayani on the sixth, Kalratri on the seventh, Mahagauri on the eighth, and Siddhidatri on the ninth day.
