Devotees have flocked to the Shakti Peeths and goddess temples across Nepal ever since early morning on the second day of Navaratri. The religious activities and visits to temples have seen a spike as the Dashain festival kicks in. Temples here in the Kathmandu Valley have been decorated with flags, decorative gateways and festive ornaments to welcome the visitor. This is also seen as a cultural and religious tourism opportunity as people flock to the popular pilgrimage sites around the country.
Major Temples In Kathmandu Valley Draw Crowds During Navaratri
Temples across Kathmandu Valley including Guheshwari, Jayabageshwari, Maitidevi, Kalikasthan, Naxal Bhagawati, Bhadrakali, Shobha Bhagawati, Bijeshwari, Indrayani, Raktakali, Shwetakali, Dakshinkali, Chamundamai, Sundarimai, Bajrayogini, Bangalamukhi. Tokha Chandeshwari have been seeing long lines of devotees during Navaratri.
Decorated with gates and colorful ornaments, devotional songs, auspicious musical performances and hymns dedicated to the goddesses have been heard. An attractive entrance gateway has been built for the Maitidevi Temple along the road to welcome the visitors while the surrounding area of Naxal Bhagawati Temple has been decorated.
With the nine-day festival during Navaratri, some of the devotees had planned to visit the nine different goddess temples as it is customary to worship different manifestations of the goddess during the nine days of the festival. As a result, there has also been a flow of pilgrims in the Kathmandu Valley.
Besides the Valley, there are also popular religious destinations such as Pathibhara, Chhinnamasta, Gadhimai, Palanchowk Bhagawati, Palchowk Bhagawati, Nala Bhagawati, Chandeshwori, Manakamana, Ichchhakamana, Bindhyabasini, Baglung Kalika, Shaileshwari, Ugratara. Badimalika which have been seeing an influx of devotees during Navaratri. The religious and cultural tourism has been witnessing a rise with the number of people visiting these temples.
Religious Traditions And Rituals Witness During The Nine Day Festival
Popularly known as Sharadiya Navaratri, special prayers and rituals were dedicated to the goddess Durga. It is believed among the Hindus that worshipping at the Shakti Peeths during this time would grant the devotees the fulfillment of wishes and blessings from the deity. Special worship was also offered to Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Mahasaraswati and it is believed that keeping religious traditions throughout the nine days of the festival would grant strength and abundance.
The religious traditions of Nepal are a key attraction for the visitors to the country and have drawn a large number of pilgrims to the temples and places of worship throughout the country. The nine day festival comes to a close on Vijaya Dashami, one of the most important days of Dashain. On this day, elders apply red tika and offer jamara, the sacred barley shoots planted during Ghatasthapana as blessings to the younger ones and family members.
It is also customary to offer sacred water from the vessel used during Ghatasthapana as a blessing from the Goddess Durga. Some of the communities observe the tradition of applying white rice tika in place of the red tika. The religious traditions combined with the visits to the temples and community celebrations have made Navaratri and Dashain a significant period of cultural and domestic tourism for the country.
Dashain Shopping And Travel Rise Throughout The Country
In addition to the religious activities, markets have also started to witness crowds as people started shopping for the Dashain festival. The commercial hubs in Kathmandu have seen busy markets with people shopping for the essentials and festive items. Many of the residents have already gone back to their ancestral homes or are set to depart from the capital city to celebrate the festival with their families.
As a result, there has also been a rise in the demand for public transport with the movement of people between Kathmandu and the districts outside the valley. However, there have been concerns raised by the travelers regarding the availability and organization of the public transport during the festive period.
The inadequate management of the transport system during major festivals such as Dashain and Tihar has resulted in the difficulties faced by the passengers heading back to their hometowns. Apart from the lack of appropriate organization, the road and bridge maintenance has also deteriorated with the flood damage in the districts of Rasuwa, Dhading, Gorkha, and Mustang this year.
Source: Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS)
