Devotees paying homage to Narayan temples to mark Haribodhini Ekadashi (Photos)

Kathmandu: Haribodhini Ekadashi is being celebrated by Hindu devotees. It’s celebrated on the day of Kartik Shukla Ekadashi.

Likewise, there is also a tradition of paying homage to the temples of Lord Vishnu on this day. Changunarayan, Ichangu Narayan, Vishangkhunarayan, and Sheshnarayan are the main Narayan temples in Kathmandu Valley. Along with these temples, devotees are flocking to other Vishnu temples across the nation.

Changunarayan Temple, Bhaktapur, is worshipped as the eldest of the four Narayan temples. The temple has seen huge crowds since early morning.

The Ekadashi is also known as  Prabodhini, Devotthani, and Utthana. Haribodhini is the biggest Ekadashi, also known as ‘Thulo Ekadashi’.

People believe that if someone obeys this Ekadashi, then all his/her sins, no matter how huge the sin is, will be destroyed in seconds. So, it is also called Papharani Ekadashi. Someone who fasts on this Hari Bodhani Ekadashi and stays awake all night, Ratri Jaagrani, will be replenished from the sins of the last hundreds of thousands of births.

Hari Shayani Ekadashi celebration in Budhanilkantha (Photo Feature)

People begin worshipping Tulsi from Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi, also known as Harishayani Ekadashi. According to the scriptures, there is a tradition of marrying Tulsi with Lord Damodar on Haribodhini Ekadashi.

It is a religious belief that Lord Vishnu, who rests in Ksheer Sagar during Chaturmas, goes to sleep on the day of Ashadh Shukla Ekadashi (Harishayani Ekadashi) and awakens after four months on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi (Haribodhini Ekadashi).

(Glimpses of devotees from Budhanilkantha Temple)

(Photos: Saroj Basnet)