Mahanavami: Taleju Bhavani Temple to open only for today

The Mahanavami festival celebrated on the day of Ashwin Shukla Navami is being celebrated today with the special worship of Nava Durga Bhagwati. After performing Durga Puja on the day of Mahanavami, the jamara kept on the day of Ghatsthapana is offered to various Shakti Peeths. Special worship of Durga Bhawani with the sacrifice of goats, ducks, chickens, and calves and recitation of Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Shri Maddevi Bhagwat, and Devi Stotra are performed in various Devi temples and Shakti Peeths of the state including Dasanghar and Kot. 

On the day of Mahanavami, non-sacrificial animals and vegetarians also offer kubindo, ghiraunla, radish, cucumber, and jata coconut. In most places, it is customary to offer sacrifices on the day of Mahasthami and to kill on the day of Mahanavami. 

According to the Markandeya Purana, Mahanavami is celebrated with special significance as Chamunda Devi killed the Raktavija demon on the same day. In some Shakti Peeths, ducks, chickens, goats, sheep, and calves are also sacrificed today.

Even today, on the last day of Navratra, devotees flock to Shakti Peeths across the country for worship and darshan. On the day of Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, the ninth Goddess Siddhidatri of Navdurga is worshiped in the worship room or Dashain house where the ghat is established. As a symbol of Durga, Kanya is worshiped and given to Dakshina. On this occasion Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati are also worshiped.

On the occasion of Mahanavami, Kot Puja and Nishan Puja are performed in the Kotas with joy. On this occasion, Hanuman Dhoka Durbar as well as the barracks and gulmas of the Nepal Army, including Bajagaja, are the target of worship and battle.

Taleju Bhavani temple to open today

The temple of Taleju Bhavani, which is open only once a year on the day of Mahanavami in the Hanuman Dhoka palace, is also open on this day. The temple, which was closed last year due to corona, will be reopened this year and preparations have been completed for the devotees to visit the temple, said Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Care Center.

As the temple is crowded with devotees, they are preparing to visit the temple by maintaining physical distance and adopting health security methods, said Sandeep Khanal, chief of the base's office. Taleju Bhavani has been brought to the main square of Hanumandhoka Durbar on the day of flowering. It is said that Taleju Bhavani will be returned to the main temple only on the morning of Vijayadashami. In Moolchowk, 54 goats and 54 calves have been sacrificed on the night of Maha Ashtami. In order to get power for running the state, Kalaratri was worshiped on Wednesday night by the Tantric method.