Ghatasthapana is the first day of Bada Dashain, the greatest festival of Nepalis. It falls on the Aswin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar Nepali calendar. The day also marks the beginning of the nine-day long Navratra.
Nepali people mainly Hindus across the country place 'Jamara' to mark the first day of Navaratra or nine nights of Bada Dashain. People sow seeds (Jau) in a mixture of sand and clay at the auspicious time decided according to the calendar which is called Saiit.
On the day of Ghatasthapana, people worship with Diyo (an oil-fed lamp) and Kalas (auspicious jar) lord Ganesha in accordance with Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots). As the commencement of a 15-day Dashain Festival period,
Ghatasthapana is one of the most important days in the Nepali calendar. It comes each year in late September to early October, the date varying on the Gregorian Calendar. The Dashain period runs from the “no moon” night of the Hindu month of Ashvin and ends on the full moon of the same month.
Prayers are offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power. Germination of the auspicious "Jamara" is also initiated at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar as per Vedic rituals on the day of Ghatasthapana.
Temples throughout the country especially Devi Temples see a large number of devotees starting the day of Ghatasthapana.
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