Dashain begins: Devotees throng temples (Photos)

Kathmandu: Dashain, a major festival in Nepal, began on Monday. Celebrated from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Purnima, the main highlight of this festival is Navaratri — nine days of worship dedicated to Goddess Durga.

During Navaratri, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil, devotees worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga.

On the first day, Ghatasthapana, people worship Goddess Shailaputri, who is revered as the daughter of the Himalayas. With devotion, they worship her and plant Jamara (a mixture of barley and maize seeds) at home as part of tradition.

Today, from early morning, large crowds of devotees thronged temples and power shrines (Shakti Peeths) across the Kathmandu Valley, including Guhyeshwari, Naxal Bhagawati, Maitidevi, Bhadrakali, and Shobhabhagawati.

(Glimpses of devotees thronging temples)

(Photos: Saroj Basnet) 

Nepali version of the photo story