The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti has announced that due to the extension of the Ashwin Shukla Chaturthi tithi, the worship and rituals of Kushmanda Devi, as per the traditions of Durga Puja during Navratri, should continue today as well.
According to the Samiti’s chairman, Professor Shrikrishna Adhikari, the Chaturthi tithi remained valid until 6:16 AM today. He informed that, per scriptural traditions, the devotees should worship Kushmanda Devi today as they did the day before. On Sunday, the Chaturthi tithi was prevalent during sunrise and lasted throughout the day and night, equivalent to 60 ghadi (a traditional time measurement).
Even though today marks the fifth day since Ghatasthapana, the extended Chaturthi tithi requires continuing the same rituals. The worship of Skandamata, the fifth goddess among the Navadurga, should be performed on Tuesday during the sunrise of Ashwin Shukla Panchami. This year, while the Chaturthi tithi has been extended, the Navami tithi has been shortened.
Chairman Adhikari further stated that after completing the Mahashtami rituals on the 25th of Ashwin, devotees will need to take a brief rest before proceeding with the Mahashtami and Navami rituals on the same day due to this year’s unique tithi configuration.
Despite the extension of Chaturthi and the shortening of Navami, the Samiti confirmed that this year’s Navratri still consists of the traditional nine nights, a phenomenon that occurs occasionally due to variations in the tithi cycles.
Source: RSS
