Matatirtha Aunsi: Devotees flock to Matatirtha Kund to honor mothers (photos)

KATHMANDU: This morning, thousands of devotees have flocked to Matatirtha Kund in Chandragiri Municipality, Kathmandu, to participate in the annual rituals of Matatirtha Aunsi, a significant day to honor mothers.

The event sees a surge of visitors each year on the day of the new moon in the month of Baisakh (April–May), with devotees coming to bathe at the sacred Matatirtha Kund and to pay homage to the mother’s statue.

Devotees begin their observances the evening before by lighting lamps in remembrance of their mothers and staying vigil throughout the night.

As dawn breaks, they proceed to take a ritual bath in the holy Matatirtha Kund, which is believed to wash away sins and grant blessings.

Shanta Udasi, Chairman of the Matatirtha Conservation and Development Organization, shared that arrangements have been made to ensure smooth and organized bathing for the devotees.

According to Udasi, the ritual of bathing at the Matatirtha Kund is deeply significant, as it is believed to free sons and daughters from the debt they owe to their deceased mothers.

The day of Matatirtha Aunsi is widely observed as a day to show reverence and gratitude to mothers, considered to be even more important than fathers in the scriptures.

Families across the country offer their mothers sweet treats and nourishing foods, while seeking blessings for their well-being.

On this sacred occasion, children traditionally wake early, bathe, and dress their mothers in new clothes. They offer them delicacies and seek their blessings.

For those who have lost their mothers, it is customary to offer a ceremony of Tarpan (ritual offering) and Pind (offering of rice balls), along with a donation to priests, to honor and remember their mothers’ virtues and struggles.

This year, in recognition of the significance of the day, Chandragiri Municipality has declared a public holiday within the municipality, allowing locals to participate in the heartfelt celebrations and ceremonies of the Matatirtha Mela.

Matatirtha Aunsi is not only a festival of devotion but also a reminder of the deep bonds of love, respect, and sacrifice between mothers and their children.