Maha Astami – माहाअस्टमी

Maha Astami is the great eighth day of the Dasain festival. On this day, Goddess Taleju Bhawani: another name of Goddess Durga Bhawani is brought from the majestic temple to the one-storey building called ‘Dasain ghar’ at the ancient palace in Kathmandu and other ancient towns throughout Nepal for making offering to the Goddess Taleju Bhavani on the occasion of the Dasain festival.

On this day, every household of the Newar community sets up a ‘thapan’ means a god called Bhairab next to the eighteen-limbed goddess Durga Bhawani at the prayer room. ‘Thapan’ is a small earthen jar filled with home-brewed liquor. Some Nevah households set up ‘khadga’ in the prayer rooms. ‘Khadga’ is a sword-like weapon.

Other communities continue to make offerings to Goddess Durga Bhavani in different names at different places throughout Nepal on this day.

The night between the eighth day and the ninth day of the Dasain festival is called ‘kal ratri’. On this night, tantric offerings including the animal sacrifices are made to the eighteen-limbed Goddess Taleju Bhavani along with ‘The Living Goddess Kumari’: one of the many incarnations of Goddess Taleju Bhavani at the ‘Dasain ghar.’