The Mahanawami festival is being observed today with great fervor, honoring Goddess Durga Bhawani through special rituals and offerings. Celebrated on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj, as per the lunar calendar, Mahanawami is an integral part of the 10-day Bada Dashain festival.
Devotees across the country are performing special worship to Goddess Durga Bhawani, offering ‘jamara,’ sacred barley shoots germinated during Dashain, at various shrines. Traditionally, animal sacrifices of he-goats, ducks, roosters, and he-buffalos are made at temples dedicated to the goddess. However, those who do not practice animal sacrifice offer fruits and vegetables as symbolic offerings.
The Durga Saptasati and Devi Stotra scriptures are recited both in temples and at homes to honor the goddess. According to the Markandeya Purana, the goddess Chamunda defeated the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami, which is why animal sacrifices and special worship are performed in her honor today.
Additionally, the country’s security forces observe the ‘kot puja,’ a ritual where they worship armories, seeking protection and strength. Another unique aspect of Mahanawami is the opening of the Taleju Temple at Hanumandhoka in Kathmandu, accessible to devotees only on this day each year.
The Newar community also observes the festival by worshipping Bhimsen, a Hindu deity, through animal sacrifices. This year, an unusual occurrence is that Maha Astami and Mahanawami festivals are celebrated on the same day, adding to the religious significance of the occasion.
Mahanawami, a festival rooted in Nepal’s cultural and spiritual heritage, continues to be celebrated with devotion and traditional rituals, uniting people across the country in reverence.
Source: RSS
