PHOTOS: Devotees take holy dip in Shali Nadi marking initiation of month-long Swasthani Barta

KATHMANDU, Jan 17: Swasthani Barta, a month-long ritual that begins from the full moon day in the Nepali month of Poush (between January and February) and ends on the next full moon day, has begun from today.

Despite a high risk of COVID-19 transmission and restrictions of the government, devotees throng to Shali Nadi earlier this morning to take a holy dip.

Every night family members gather around, reciting one chapter of the ‘Swasthani Katha’ each day. This month-long festival is marked by fasting especially by women including a few men the entire month for the sake of family welfare or getting a good husband or wife. The festival concludes with an Ashwamegha Yagya, where devotees worship god Shiva for the whole night.

When the festival concludes next month, various types of food are prepared to mark the end of the day and it is believed that everything has to be 108 pieces, even the flowers. Of the 108 pieces, eight are to be given to the husbands, if there is no husband then to the son, and if no son then to the son of a friend, and if no friend then the fasting lady has to formally release it on the nearby river.

Here are some pictures taken earlier this morning by Ratopati photojournalist: