Dashain festival observations officially begins today with the celebration of Ghatasthapana, the first day of Navaratri. On this day, devotees across Nepal prepare to sow Jamara, sacred shoots of wheat, maize, and barley, which will be used in rituals later in the festival.

The ceremony begins with the purification of the space where the sacred vessel, or “Kalash,” will be placed. The spot is cleaned with a mixture of cow dung and red mud. A vessel filled with holy water and leaves from the Pipal tree, along with an oil-fed lamp, are positioned in the prayer room. According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, the auspicious hour for sowing Jamara is set for 9:16 a.m.

Ghatasthapana, which means the placement of the vessel, marks the formal start of worshipping Goddess Nava Durga. Over the next nine days, nine different forms of the goddess—Shailyaputri, Brahamcharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidhatri—are worshipped in various temples and homes.

During Navaratri, devotees also visit numerous temples dedicated to goddess shrines across the country. Popular sites include Naxal Bhagawati, Shobha Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Guheswori, Bhadrakali, Kalikasthan, and others. Regional temples, such as Pathibhara in Taplejung, Nasingh Bhagawati in Baglung, and Manakamana in Gorkha, also see a large influx of devotees during this time.

The nine-day festival, also known as Navaratri Parba, culminates on Bijaya Dashami, the tenth and most significant day. It celebrates the victory of good over evil, symbolized by Goddess Durga’s triumph over the demon king Mahishasura. On this day, younger individuals receive tika and Jamara from their elders, along with blessings for peace, prosperity, and success.

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