Maha Astami and Nawami Today Due to Extended Lunar Dates

Although today is the ninth day of Navaratri, due to the extension of the lunar date, the rituals of Maha Ashtami must still be performed, according to the Nepal Panchang Determination Development Committee. This year, because of the date extension, Ashtami falls on two consecutive days.

In the calendar approved by the committee, Kartik 1 and Kartik 2 are both marked as Maha Ashtami. Professor Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, former committee member and Head of the Department of Dharma Shastra at Valmiki Vidyapeeth, explained that the rituals performed on Kartik 1 must be repeated on Kartik 2 in Dashain houses or prayer rooms.

Thus, worship today must also be dedicated to Mahagauri, the eighth goddess among the Navadurga. Other rituals carried out on Maha Ashtami are to be repeated as well. The committee’s calendar also specifies that the Kalaratri Puja, traditionally performed on the night of Ashwin Shukla Ashtami, should be conducted on the night of Kartik 1.

Because Ashtami occurs on two days, this year Navaratri has effectively become Dasharatra (ten nights). On Vijayadashami, the tika will be applied with jamara grown over ten nights. Scholars of Dharma Shastra note that extending the worship by one day does not make any significant difference. Today too, devotees are thronging Shakti Peeths across the country for the worship of Navadurga.

Similarly, the Kalaratri Puja performed by the state at Hanuman Dhoka will be conducted tonight, following consultation with the committee and the tradition upheld by Taleju’s priests, according to Jayanti Shrestha Pradhan, Chief of the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Care Office. She added that after the Maha Ashtami rituals at Hanuman Dhoka, the following day’s tradition of Mahanavami worship and rituals will be observed as usual. (RSS)