1 October, Kathmandu. Goddess Mahagauri, the eighth goddess of Navadurga, is being worshiped on Sunday, the eighth day of Badadashain and Navratri. On this occasion, there is a tradition of ritually worshiping Mahagauri in Dashinghar and Pooja Kotha.
According to Vedic Sanatan tradition, Mahagauri Devi is worshiped every year on Ashwin Shukla Ashtami i.e. the eighth day of Durga Paksha.
Mahagauri is described as a goddess riding on a white bull, with a fair complexion and wearing white clothes.
On the first day of Navratri, on October 25th, barley jamara was kept in Dashinghar and Pooja Kotha. On the same day, Shailaputri, the first goddess of Navadurga, was worshipped.
Brahmacharini was worshiped on the second day of Navaratri, Chandraghanta on the third day, Kushmanda on the fourth day, Skandamata on the fifth day, Katyayani on the sixth day and Kalaratri on the seventh day. On the 7th day yesterday, according to the tradition of bringing flower pots in Dashinghar, the flower pots were brought in.
On the nine days of Navratri, chants of Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Sri Maddevi Bhagavata and other Goddess Stotras are recited at the place where the Ghatasthapana is established. There is a religious belief that if you worship the goddess, you will get power, wealth and knowledge. Based on this belief, Vedic Sanatan Dharma followers perform special worship of Goddess Durga from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami.
Goddess Siddhidatri is worshiped on the ninth day of Navratri. Thus there is a tradition of worshiping nine forms of Navadurga namely Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
During Navratri, there is a crowd of devotees who worship and darshan at Shaktipeeth and Devi temples all over the country. The movement of devotees has increased on the occasion of Navratri in various Shaktipeeths of the country including Kathmandu Valley.
After worshiping the nine days of Navratri, from Vijayadashami to Kojagrat Purnima, there is a tradition of offering Tika and Jamra to the Goddess. This is how Nepali people celebrate Badadashain festival for 15 days.
