Culture

A large number of devotees have worshipped goddess Taleju Bhawani in the heart of Kathmandu, marking Mahanawami, which is observed on the ninth day of the 10-day-long Dashain festival.

The temple is open for the devotees once in a year - and that's on Mahanawami.

Devotees thronged the temple since the early in morning on Tuesday to offer worship.

Sandeep Khanal, Chief of the Hanumandhoka Durbar Area Management Office, said that thousands of people have assembled at the temple since the morning, and all those lining up for paying homage to the goddess Taleju Bhawani would be allowed in as the temple is open only on Mahanawami.

Earlier, statue of the goddess was taken around the Mulchok of the Hanumandhoka Durbar Area as part of time-honoured tradition.

The statue of the goddess was taken around the Mulchok courtyard at 10.05 am on Sunday, the auspicious hour determined for performing this ritual by the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee. The goddess was kept at the Mulchok and special Kalaratri worship and prayers offered to her on Monday with the sacrificing of 54 male goats and 54 male buffaloes. 

Worships are offered to the Taleju Bhawani by keeping the goddess statue in the Mulchok courtyard until Bijaya Dashami. Bijaya Dashami, the last day of the 10-day-long festival of Nepalis, falls on Wednesday.

The goddess' statue would be taken to the Taleju Bhawani temple from Mulchok at the auspicious hour of 7.35 am on Wednesday. It will remain there until the day of Saptami during Dashain next year. - RSS