Nepal Observes Maha Navami, Honouring Goddess Durga

Nepal is observing Maha Navami, the tenth day of Dashain this year, in the country’s biggest Hindu festival, with special prayers to Goddess Durga, rituals at sacred temples and traditional ceremonies at military barracks and historic places.

Usually observed on the ninth day of the bright lunar fortnight of Ashwin, Maha Navami marks a significant day in the ten-day Dashain festival, which celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is also a major occasion for family reunions and cultural gatherings in Nepal.

Devotees are visiting temples and Shakti Peeths, shrines dedicated to the divine feminine power across the country to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Special worship is being performed for Siddhidatri, the ninth manifestation of Goddess Durga, in homes and temples where sacred shoots of barley, known as jamara, were planted on Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain.

The jamara is offered at temples and other sacred sites as part of the rituals. Worshippers also pay homage to Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, representing divine power, prosperity and knowledge.

Animal sacrifices, traditionally offered as part of Durga worship at some temples and shrines, are performed in several locations.

Worshippers who do not practise animal sacrifice instead offer vegetables and fruits, including ash gourd, radish, cucumber and coconut, along with traditional food offerings.

According to Hindu religious tradition, Maha Navami is associated with the slaying of the demon Raktabija by Goddess Chamunda, a fierce manifestation of Durga, as described in the Markandeya Purana.

The day also carries historical and military significance in Nepal. Special Kot Puja and Nishan Puja ceremonies are held at historic palace armouries and Nepal Army barracks and units. At Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu, as well as military installations across the country, ceremonial worship of weapons and military standards is accompanied by traditional music and festivities.

Another ritual observed during Maha Navami is the worship of young girls, regarded in the Hindu tradition as manifestations of the divine feminine. They are honoured with offerings and monetary gifts.

Dashain culminates on Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day, when elders place tika a mixture of rice, yoghurt and vermilion and jamara on the foreheads of younger family members and offer blessings. The occasion is marked by family visits, the exchange of gifts and gatherings across Nepal and among Nepali communities worldwide.