KATHMANDU,
The 15-day-long Dashain festival starts with Ghatasthapana on Wednesday. On this day, people sow seeds and grains for jamara (sacred plants) at homes and temples.
Ghatasthapana, the first day of the greatest Hindu festival, is dedicated to the worship of Durga, the goddess of power.
On this day, people clean up their houses to prepare for Ghatasthapana. They plant jamara in a vessel and on a plot prepared from soil and sand. Devotees visit various Durga temples. The Ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a particular auspicious time. Goddess Shakti is believed to reside in the Kalash during the Navratri period. Jamara is offered by elders as blessings to youngers on the 10th day, which is also known as Bijaya Dashami. On this day, the elders put tika (a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermillion) on the forehead of younger members of the family or relatives and the ritual continues for the next five days in some communities.
