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Hindu devouts in Nepal celebrate Swasthani festival

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7 years ago

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Kathmandu, Jan 2 (IANS) Nepal’s Hindu community on Tuesday kicked off celebrations for the Swasthani festival during which devotees bathe in various sacred rivers to wash away their sins and pray for prosperity.

The religious festival, also known as Madhav Narayan, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Swasthani. Hundreds of thousands of participants gather on the river-banks in Nepal for the ceremonies.

“We are expecting over two million devotees to come for the bath here during the festival period,” Jeevan Shrestha, the vice-chairman of the festival organisation committee for the Salinadi river in the Kathmandu valley, told Efe news.

Devotees also visit other river banks including Hanumanghat, located 15 km from the capital, for ceremonies where the women dress in red and the men roll around on the ground before taking a dip in the water.

“Taking holy baths in the rivers during the festival period washes away the sins committed by an individual,” said Hindu priest Uttam Baral.

The celebrations include night-long recitals of the story of Swasthani, a 31-chapter legend which narrates the origins of the Earth, the suicide of Swasthani — the first wife of Lord Shiva — and how Parvati became his second wife.

“It is believed that reciting these stories pleases Goddess Swasthani who grants wishes to the devotees to overcome their troubles,” Baral said.

The festival — which is unique to Nepal — includes worship of the goddess in various rituals at different locations.

Hindus form 81 per cent of Nepal’s 30 million people, while around 9 per cent of the population is Buddhist.

–IANS
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Chaitra Navratri 2022 Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini Significance and History

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3 years ago

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April 3, 2022

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Chaitra Navratri 2022 begins on the first day of the Hindu month (lunar-solar calendar) Chaitra. It marks the end of spring season and beginning of summer season, and that’s why it is also known as Vasant Navratri. The nine-day-long festival has already started from April 2. Tomorrow, that is April 3, is the second day of Chaitra Navratri, and Goddess Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day of the holy festival.

Chaitra Navratri 2022 Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini Significance

Maa Brahmacharini is known for her pure and sincere devotion and determination. According to the drik panchang, Goddess Parvati took birth at the home of Daksha Prajapati. In this form, the Goddess Parvati was a great Sati and her unmarried form is worshipped as Goddess Brahmacharini. It is also believed that Lord Mangal, the provider of all fortunes, is governed by Goddess Brahmacharini. She did severe penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband and performed hard austerity. Due to this, she was called Brahmacharini. According to Hindu mythologies, Goddess Brahmacharini was on a diet of Bilva leaves for 3000 years while she prayed to Lord Shankar. Later, she even stopped eating Bilva leaves and continued her penance without any food and water.

Chaitra Navratri 2022 Day 2: Maa Brahmacharini Puja Vidhi

Step 1: The devotees should get up early and should take a bath.

Step 2: Then, the devotees should take flowers, roli, chandan, among other puja samagari and offer them to the idol of Maa Brahmacharini.

Step 3: The devotees should chant mantras and conclude the puja by performing a special Maa Durga Aarti.

The favourite flower of Maa Brahmacharini is Jasmine. The website also mentions the mantras to chant for Maa Brahmacharini.

Om Devi Brahmacharinyai Namah॥

Stuti:

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Maa Brahmacharini Rupena Samsthita।
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namo Namah॥

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