KATHMANDU, Oct 19: Devotees have thronged Goddess shrines and temples across the country, including in the Kathmandu Valley, to observe Maha Ashtami, the ninth day of Bada Dashain.
As the lunar calendar has extended the festival date, devotees have visited 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.
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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 others, to worship the goddesses.
The temples and shrines have been decorated with colourful lights, flags, banners and flowers, creating a festive atmosphere as devotees gathered from early morning to offer prayers.
According to RSS local correspondents, major shrines across the country also witnessed a large influx of devotees. These included Dakshinkali near Kathmandu, Manakamana in Gorkha, Pathibhara in Taplejung, Bagalamukhi in Lalitpur, Bindhyabasini in Pokhara, Palanchok Bhagawati in Kavrepalanchok, Chandannath in Jumla, Shaileshwari in Doti and Ugratara Bhagawati in Dadeldhura.
Likewise, Tripurasundari in Baitadi, Bageshwari in Nepalgunj, Chhinnamasta Bhagawati and Rajdevi in Saptari, Jalpadevi in Dhankuta, Dantakali in Dharan, Sunsari, and Gadhimai in Bara have been crowded with devotees since morning.
Devotees traditionally believe that worshipping at Shakti shrines during this auspicious period helps fulfil their wishes. Special prayers are also offered to Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, who are revered as manifestations of divine feminine power.