Ghatasthapana of Dashain festival begins

Kathmandu:The first day of Nepal’s great national festival well known as “Ghatasthapana” has began on Saturday  which falls on the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar.

As the day of Ghatasthapana begins all Hindu religion believers worship an oil-fed lamp which is considered to be most auspicious and lord Gagnesh as per the old Vedic rituals and sow the seeds of barley and maize in a jar filled with soil and cow dung.

This process leads to germination of Jamara, the yellowish golden shoots of barley after few days which is known as “Jamara” in local Nepali dialect and used during applying tika on the foreheads of the juniors who come to elders to seek their blessing for peace and prosperity.

Dashain festival without use of Jamara is not considered possible. The use of a read vermillio tick on the forehead with shoots of barley or Jamara hanging from the side of ears marks the celebration of this festival among the people.

The auspicious occasion of Ghatasthapana was observed at 11:46 a.m. on Saturday, according to Nepal Calendar Determination Committee.

The outgrown shoots of barley or Jamara are used on the tenth day of the festival known as Bada Dashain which is the last day of the festival. This day also marks the worship of “Mahakali” for power, worship of “Mahalaxmi” for wealth and worship of “Mahasarswati” for knowledge by the Hindu followers.

A platoon of Nepali army usually engage in a ritualistic process along with weapons to mark the occasion of sowing the seed of barley or Jamara at Basantpur Durbar Square, Hanumandhoka- one of the old royal palaces in Kathmandu on this occasion.