Ghatasthapana, the day which marks the beginning of the festival of Bada Dashain, the longest and most auspicious festival in Nepali annual calendar, is being observed across the country on Tuesday.
A 76-year-old woman preparing to grow Jamara on her chest without moving for ten days...
Ghatasthapana literally means installing a pot which symbolizes Goddess Shakti.
On the day of Ghatasthapana, all Nepalese worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalas (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots).
This day falls on Aswin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Aswin.
Prayers are also offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power today. Germination of the auspicious "Jamara" is also initiated at Hanumandhoka Dasain Ghar in accordance with Vedic rituals, today.
There is also a tradition of sacrificing animals while initiating the germination of the "Jamara".
There is a public holiday on the occasion of Ghatasthapana. nepalnews.com
