Kathmandu: The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti has stated that Maha Ashtami rituals should be performed on both days of the festival this year, as the lunar date (tithi) has extended, resulting in Ashtami falling on two consecutive days during Navaratri.
According to the calendar approved by the committee, both Kartik 1 and Kartik 2 have been designated as Maha Ashtami.
Prof. Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, a former member of the committee and head of the Department of Dharmashastra at Valmiki Vidyapeeth, told the National News Agency (RSS) that rituals performed on Kartik 1 should also be repeated on Kartik 2 in the Dashain Ghar or designated prayer room.
Although Kartik 2 marks the ninth day of Navaratri, worship and rituals traditionally performed on the eighth day should be observed again on that day, Bhattarai said.
Devotees should worship Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth form of Goddess Durga, on Kartik 2 as well. Other religious rituals associated with Maha Ashtami should also be repeated, he added.
The calendar approved by the committee states that the Kalaratri Puja, traditionally performed on the night of Ashwin Shukla Ashtami, should take place on the night of Kartik 1.
As Ashtami falls on two days this year, Navaratri has effectively extended into ten nights. Consequently, devotees will wear jamara—the sacred barley shoots grown during Dashain—for ten nights by the time of Vijaya Dashami.
Religious scholars say that the extension of the festival by an additional day does not affect the spiritual significance of worship and devotional practices dedicated to the Goddess.
Meanwhile, a general Maha Ashtami worship ceremony was performed at the Dashain Ghar inside Hanuman Dhoka Durbar on Sunday. The main worship ceremony is scheduled for Monday, according to the Durbar Herchah Adda.
A longstanding tradition at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar involves performing special worship and rituals, including the sacrifice of 108 animals, on the night of Maha Ashtami.
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