Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The Mahanawami festival is being celebrated throughout the country today by worshiping the goddess Durga.

Special worship is performed to Durga Bhawani today today and the ‘jamara’ which have been germinated is offered to the goddesses at various shrines. Special worship of Goddess Durga Bhawani along with sacrifice of goats, ducks, chickens and buffaloes is performed at 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.

On the day of Mahanawami, people who do not offer animal sacrifice and even offer pumpkin, ghiraula, radish, cucumber and matted coconut. In most places, it is customary to sacrifice on the day of Maha Ashtami and to kill on the day of Mahanawami.

As mentioned in the Markandeya Purana scripture, Goddess Chamunda had slain the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami. In some Shakti Peeths, five sacrifices of ducks, chickens, goats, sheep and buffaloes are also offered today.

On the last day of Navratri, devotees throng the Shakti Peeths across the country to offer prayers and pay obeisance. On the day of Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, Siddhidatri, the ninth goddess among the nine goddesses, is worshiped in the puja room or Dashain house where the Jamara is kept. As a symbol of Durga, the girl is worshipped and Dakshina is also given. On this occasion, Goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati are also worshipped.

On the occasion of Mahanawami, Kot Puja and Nishana Puja are performed with great enthusiasm in the Kots. On this occasion, the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar as well as the barracks and battalions of the Nepal Army along with musical instruments are performed in the army Target Puja and Kot Puja.