Month-long Swasthani Brata Katha beginning today
KATHMANDU, Jan 1: The month long ritual usually begins from the full moon day of Nepali Poush month (January/February). The festival is marked by fasting especially by women and a few men for the entire month. It is believed that worshiping Goddess Swosthani will make your wishes come true.
Swasthani Barta Katha is a hindu tale of gods and goddesses consisting of 31 chapters recited every day for a month. Every night a chapter of the tale is recited in every households of Nepal till the 31st day, the next full moon.
During the festival, devotees throng the Sali Nadi or the Manohara River in Sankhu to take a holy bath. Since, Sali Nadi is mentioned in the tale, the river has been the prime holy location for the devotees.
The festival concludes with an Ashwamegha Yagya, devotees worship god Shiva for whole night.