Haribodhani Ekadashi today

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Nov. 23: Nepali people are observing  Haribodhani Ekadashi, the biggest Ekadashi and wedding of the Tulsi (basil) plants across the country on Thursday.

On this day, devotees flock to various Narayan temples in the Kathmandu Valley, mainly Budhanilkhanta and four major Narayan temples of the valley. 

Changu Narayan, Ichangu Narayan, Bishankhu Narayan and Shesh Narayan temples will be especially crowded with devotees from early in the morning. 

To mark the day, the devotees will hang torans of flowers across the Bagmati River near the Pashupatinath Temple and other river sites. 

It is believed that Lord Vishnu, who goes to sleep on Harishayani Ekadashi awakens from his four-month cosmic slumber on the day of Haribodhani Ekadashi. 

On the occasion, the basil plants will be decorated with flowers along with other accessories. 

Small twigs of bamboo, colloquially called lingo, are raised over the Tulsi Moth, where Tulsi plants grow, to mount garlands. 

It is the biggest Ekadashi so it is called Thuli Ekadashi. 

To mark the day, devotees observe fast or eat only pure food and worship the Tulsi plants. 

Dakshinkali Municipality, Nagarjun Municipality and Changu Narayan Municipality have announced a local holiday for schools and offices to celebrate the day and observe fairs at Shesh Narayan, Changu Narayan and Ichangu Narayan temples respectively. 

Outside the valley, a cultural festival was organised on Wednesday at Barahpokhari, a religious and tourist spot in Khotang. 

The festival is organised a day before Ekadashi in Barahpokhari where a grand fair is held on Haribodhani Ekadashi.

In view of the cultural festival on Wednesday and the fair on Thursday, Barahpokhari Rural Municipality has also given a 2-day public holiday in its area.

Likewise, the devotees will flock to the Kaligandaki River of Gulmi to take holy baths early in the morning. 

Fairs are also held at Ramdhumi Temple of Sunsari and Maipokhari of Illam.