Goddess shrines across country draw devotees
Kathmandu / Oct 19: Devotees have thronged Goddess shrines and temples at different places of the country including Kathmandu Valley today to observe Maha Ashtami, the ninth day of Bada Dashain.
With the lunar calendar extending the festival date, devotees thronged Shakti shrines and temples dedicated to Goddess Durga, including Guheshwari and Maitidevi, to offer prayers and perform rituals as Maha Ashtami is being observed for a second consecutive day.
In the Kathmandu Valley, large numbers of worshippers visited shrines such as Kalikasthan, Naxal Bhagawati, Bhadrakali, Shobha Bhagawati, Bijeshwari, Indrayani, Raktakali, Shwetakali, Chamundamai, Sundarimai, Bajrayogini, Taleju Bhawani and Tokha Chandeshwari, among other to worship goddess.
The temples and shrines have been decked with colourful lights, flags, banners and flowers, creating a festive atmosphere as devotees gathered from early morning to offer prayers and worship the goddesses.
According to RSS local correspondents, major shrines across the country also witnessed a heavy influx of devotees.
These included Dakshinkali near Kathmandu, Manakamana in Gorkha, Pathibhara in Taplejung, Bagalamukhi in Lalitpur district, Bindhyabasini in Pokhara, Palanchok Bhagawati in Kavrepalanchok district, Chandannath in Jumla district, Shaileshwari in Doti district, Ugratara Bhagawati in Dadeldhura district.
Likewise, Tripurasundari in Baitadi districts, Bageshwari in Nepalgunj, Chhinnamasta Bhagawati and Rajdevi in Saptari district, Jalpadevi in Dhankuta district, Dantakali in Dharan, Sunsari district and Gadhimai in Bara district are crowded with devotees since morning.
Devotees traditionally believe that worshipping at Shakti shrines during this auspicious period helps fulfill their wishes.
Special prayers are also offered to Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, revered as manifestations of the divine feminine power. RSS