Mahanawami Festival Celebrated with Fervor Today

The Mahanawami festival is being celebrated today with great enthusiasm, marking the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj, as per the lunar calendar. This day is part of the broader Bada Dashain festival, which spans 10 days. Devotees across the country are worshipping goddess Durga Bhawani and making offerings in her honor.

On this occasion, special prayers and rituals are performed at various temples, with the sacred “jamara,” sprouted during Dashain, being offered to the goddess. Traditional animal sacrifices, including he-goats, ducks, roosters, and he-buffalos, are made at shrines dedicated to the goddess. Those who do not follow the tradition of animal sacrifices instead offer fruits and vegetables.

Scriptures like the Durga Saptasati and Devi Strota are recited in homes and temples. According to the Markandeya Purana, Goddess Chamunda defeated the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami, which is why special worship and sacrifices are offered today.

The day also holds significance for security forces, who perform ‘kot puja,’ a ritual to honor their armories. Additionally, the Taleju Temple in Hanumandhoka, Kathmandu, is opened for devotees only on this day, allowing them to pay homage to the goddess.

In the Newar community, the deity Bhimsen is also worshipped with animal sacrifices during Mahanawami. This year, the festivals of Maha Astami and Mahanawami coincide, adding to the festive spirit of the occasion.