KATHMANDU, Sept 21: "Navaratri Parba" or the nine-night festival of Bada Dashain, the great festival of the Hindu religious people of Nepal, commenced from today.
Ghatasthapana marked nationwide (photo feature)
The first day of Bada Dashain festival is called "Ghatasthapana" that falls on Aswin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Aswin.
On the day of Ghatasthapana, all Nepalis worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots). The auspicious hour of observing Ghatasthapan is 9:41 am today.