KATHMANDU: The Mahanawami festival is celebrated every year on the ninth day of the month of Ashwin Shukla by worshipping the goddess Nawadurga Bhagwati.

On the day of Mahanawami, Durga Puja and other rituals are performed and the Jamara kept on the day of Ghatasthapana is offered to various Shakti Peeths. Special worship of Durga Bhawani along with the sacrifice of goats, ducks, chickens and buffaloes is performed in various temples and Shakti Peeths of the state, including Dashain Ghar and Kot, and recitation of Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Shrimad Devi Bhagwat and Devi Stotra.

Those who do not sacrifice animals and vegetarians also offer emulsion on the day of Maha Navami. In most places, it is also customary to sacrifice on the day of Maha Ashtami and kill on the day of Maha Navami.

According to the Markandeya Purana, on the day of Mahanavami, Goddess Chamunda killed the demon Raktabij, so the Mahanavami festival is taken with special importance. In some Shakti Peeths, Panch Bali of ducks, chickens, goats, sheep and buffaloes is also given today.

On the last day of Navratri, devotees throng the Shakti Peeths across the country for worship and darshan. On the day of Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, Siddhidatri, the ninth goddess of the nine Durgas, is worshiped in the puja room or Dashain house of Ghatasthapana. As a symbol of Durga, the girl is worshiped and Dakshina is also given. On this occasion, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati are also worshiped methodically.

On the occasion of Mahanavami, Kotpuja and Nishana Puja are performed with great enthusiasm in the Kots. On this occasion, it is customary to perform Jungi Nishana Puja and Kot Puja along with music in the Hanuman Dhoka Palace as well as in the barracks and battalions of the Nepal Army.

Taleju Bhawani Temple in Hanumandhoka Durbar Square opened

The temple of Taleju Bhawani, which is located in the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square, which is opened once a year only on the day of Mahanawami, has been opened for the general public from 5 am. According to the Hanumandhoka Durbar Care Office, preparations have been completed for the devotees to open the temple. The temple will remain open for the devotees till 6 pm today, said Jayanti Shrestha Pradhan, chief of the office of the Durbar Care Office.

Taleju Bhawani was brought to the main chowk of Hanumandhoka Palace on the day of Phulpati. It is said that Taleju Bhavani will be returned to the main temple only in the morning on the day of Bijaya Dashami.

On the night of Maha Ashtami, 54 goats and 54 buffaloes were also sacrificed at Mul Chowk on Monday night. According to the Durbar Care Office, Kalratri Puja was performed on Monday night with the intention of gaining strength for the running of the state.