Month-long Swasthani fasting concludes

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 13: The month-long fasting of Madhav Narayan, which began on Poush Shukla Purnima in Sankhu, concluded on Wednesday after performing an Ashwamedh Yagya. 

On Magh Shukla Purnima, on Wednesday, both men and women who were fasting for a month by performing various rituals on the bank of the Salinadi and Hanuman Ghat of Bhaktapur concluded their fasting process. The recitation of Swasthani story also ended. 

The fasting devotees offered 108 items including betel nuts, betel leaves, fruits, shrikhand, red sandalwood, vermilion, clothes and other items to the Goddess Shree Swasthani in hopes of fulfilling their wishes.  

According to Shree Madhavnarayan Swasthani Fasting and Salinadi Management Committee, all devotees gathered on the temple premise early in the morning and took a holy bath in the Salinadi like every morning and worshipped. 

On the last day of the festival, the worshippers performed religious and traditional rituals, gathering at temple premises, organising the Ashwamedh Yagya and spending the night awake worshipping Madhav Narayan jointly.    

Fasting devotees will eat 100 loaves of bread and stay awake throughout the night for the Ashwamedha Yagya.