Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple in northeastern Kathmandu was filled with devotees from the early morning on Friday as people gathered to honor their deceased fathers and perform traditional ancestral rituals on Kushe Aunsi, a day dedicated to fathers and ancestors. Observed on the new moon day of the Bhadra month, Kushe Aunsi holds deep religious and cultural significance in Nepal. The day is traditionally observed by expressing respect and gratitude toward fathers, remembering departed ancestors, and collecting kush, a sacred grass used in Hindu religious rituals throughout the year. The grass is also regarded in Hindu tradition as being associated with Lord Vishnu.
Gokarneshwor Becomes a Center for Ancestral Worship
The Gokarneshwor Uttar Gaya Pitrutirtha Dham saw a steady flow of devotees who arrived to perform tarpan, aamaan, and pindadan in memory of their deceased fathers. These rituals are considered important acts of remembrance, respect, and devotion toward departed family members.
Gokarneshwor is regarded as an important pilgrimage site for ancestral worship in the Kathmandu Valley. According to religious belief, performing shraddha and tarpan at the site on Bhadra Krishna Aunsi is believed to help bring liberation to ancestors of up to 21 generations.
Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple priest Jagdish Bhatta said religious scriptures describe the site as a sacred place for performing ancestral rituals. According to religious tradition, the pilgrimage site is also believed to have been established by Lord Brahma during the Satya Yuga.
Religious and Cultural Importance
The observance at Gokarneshwor also has significance among Buddhist devotees. Buddhist religious teacher Aitaman Lama said Buddhist families visit the temple to perform shraddha and worship, particularly within a year of a father’s death. After completing the rituals, family members traditionally gather for a meal. There is also a belief that visiting Gokarneshwor Mahadev on Kushe Aunsi allows devotees to honor their deceased fathers and seek their blessings symbolically.
The day is also widely known as Gokarne Aunsi because of the annual religious gathering held at Gokarneshwor. The occasion brings together people from different communities and highlights the temple’s longstanding importance as a religious and cultural pilgrimage destination in Kathmandu Valley. Religious tradition further associates Pashupatinath Temple with the Shree Yantra and Gokarneshwor Mahadev with the Bal Yantra. Devotees therefore consider visiting both sacred sites meaningful as part of their religious pilgrimage. With its combination of ancestral rituals, faith and longstanding cultural traditions, the annual Kushe Aunsi observance continues to make Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple an important destination for religious and cultural tourism in Kathmandu Valley.
