Kathmandu. Gaura Festival, the main festival of the far-western region, is being celebrated in the capital today by organizing various programs.

On the first day of the Gaura festival, which begins on the day of Bhadra Krishna Panchami, women have started the festival by soaking biruda i.e. five types of grains in copper utensils.

The women have fasted and soaked in copper rent by mixing wheat, banana, wheat, maas and gurus. The mixture of these five grains is called ‘Biruda’. On the second day, it is customary for women to collectively wash biruda and replace Gaura Devi at the water sources and pandhera during auspicious muhurat.

On the day of Saptami, gaura devi is brought to the nearby monastery-temple and worshiped by married women. On the day of Gaurashtami, women fast and worship in Gaura Khalo, the place where Gaura is celebrated since morning.

According to the priest, there is a tradition of worshiping the goddess by anointing in the evening and wearing a scarf around his neck.

On the same day, women take biruda as prasad and worship them on the heads of their family members and put biruda on their foreheads. The arrival of Gaura, which is celebrated with more importance than Dashain by the people of Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Doti of the Far-West, has increased the movement in the Far-West.

Mythological stories, stories of gods and goddesses and religious texts are sung in Deuda, which is the main attraction of Gaura festival. Not only this, there is also a sharp satire against social distortions through Deuda. On this occasion, women express their happiness and sorrow through Deuda.

It is customary for men and women to play deuda, chait, dhamari etc. in the local folk language by uniting separately in gauraghar until gaura is immersed. Also, deuda and dhamari, dusco, hori games are also played. On the occasion of Gaura festival, deuda songs share each other’s sorrows and joys and share love and affection.

This festival is also considered as a festival of unity. People who have gone out of the house for work for gaura festival return home. It is believed that gaura festival, which is immersed on a favorable date, will not only help in increasing religious, faith and mutual harmony among the people, but also worshiping Shiva and Gauri by fasting on this festival will bring happiness and peace, favored and family deities will be pleased. ।

Photo: Nepal Photo Library