Kushe Aunshi and Father’s Day Celebrated Across Nepal Today

Nepal is celebrating Kushe Aunshi, also known as Father’s Day or Gokarne Aunshi, today with traditional fervor. Hindus across the country are observing the day by bringing kush, a sharp-edged holy grass, into their homes. According to religious expert Prof. Dr. Ramchandra Gautam, it is believed that keeping kush—anointed with sacred verses by priests—brings prosperity and well-being to the household.

Kush, along with tulsi (basil plant), peepal (sacred fig tree), and shaligram (ammonite stone), is considered a symbol of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism. The day is also celebrated as Father’s Day, a time when people express their gratitude and reverence to their fathers by offering gifts, sweets, and special meals.

Major marketplaces in Kathmandu have been bustling since morning, with people shopping for gifts, fruits, and sweets to honor their fathers. The tradition aligns with the religious belief of pitridevo bhava—a principle that emphasizes respect for one’s ancestors. On this day, sons and daughters receive blessings from their fathers, while those whose fathers have passed away visit pilgrimage sites to perform shraddha, a holy ritual in memory of the deceased.

One of the most significant pilgrimage sites for this occasion is the Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple, located in the northeastern part of Kathmandu. Known as Uttargaya, the temple is the center of today’s celebrations, drawing large crowds to perform rituals such as tarpan, pind daan, and sidadan in honor of their departed fathers.

In addition to these rituals, the day is also observed as the birth anniversary of Nepali litterateur Motiram Bhatta, who made significant contributions to enriching Nepali language and literature. His legacy is remembered and celebrated alongside the traditional practices of Kushe Aunshi, making the day a blend of religious devotion and cultural pride.