Today Is The Eighth Day Of Navaratri: Mahagauri Is Being Worshipped On Sunday, the eighth day of Bada Dashain and Navaratri, Goddess Mahagauri—the eighth of the Navadurga—is being worshipped. On this occasion, it is customary to perform the ritual worship of Mahagauri in ‘Dashain Ghars’ (dedicated Dashain shrines) and prayer rooms.
According to the Vedic Sanatan tradition, Goddess Mahagauri is worshipped every year on the eighth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashoj (Ashwin Shukla Ashtami), which marks the eighth day of the Durga Paksha.
On the first day of Navaratri, Ashoj 25, “Ghatasthapan” was performed, and “jamara” (barley sprouts) were sown in the “Dashain-ghar” (Dashain room) and the “puja” room. On the same day, Shailaputri—the first of the Navadurga (the nine forms of the Goddess)—was worshipped.
On the second day of Navaratri, Brahmacharini was worshipped; on the third day, Chandraghanta; on the fourth day, Kushmanda; on the fifth day, Skandamata; on the sixth day, Katyayani; and on the seventh day, Kalaratri. Yesterday, on the seventh day, ‘Phulpati’ was brought into the Dashain-ghar in accordance with the traditional custom.
On the ninth day of Navaratri, Goddess Siddhidatri is worshipped. Thus, there is a tradition of worshipping the nine forms of Navadurga—Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidatri.
During Navaratri, “Shaktipithas” (sacred shrines of the Goddess) and temples dedicated to the Goddess across the country see large crowds of devotees arriving for worship and “darshan” (paying respects). There has been an increase in the movement of devotees at various “Shaktipithas” throughout the country, including those in the Kathmandu Valley, on the occasion of Navaratri.
Following nine days of worship and devotion during Navaratri, there is a tradition—lasting from Vijaya Dashami until Kojagrat Purnima—of receiving “tika” and “jamara” as “prasad” (blessings) from the Goddess. In this way, the Nepali people celebrate the festival of Bada Dashain over a period of 15 days.