Month-long fair of Mashta Bhagwati concludes

By Puskar Bhandari,Dadeldhura, Dec. 6: A fair with prayers was held to protect food crops during winter at the local Mashta Bhagwati Temple.

According to legend, the fair is held after worshipping Mashta Bhagwati Mata, especially when crops are destroyed by hail. The worship of Goddess Mashta Bhagwati, performed according to the traditional art, culture, and religious practices of the Far West Province, concluded on Friday. The annual worship fair held at various local temples this year ended after offering worship to Mashta Bhagwati.

Every year, the annual fairs of various deities conclude with the formal worship of Mashta Bhagwati and Nava Durga, which last one month.The fair ends after performing traditional Deuda dance.

At Mashta Bhagwati, located on Bhanivan Hill in Navadurga Rural Municipality-1, worships are performed annually on the 1st day of the Nepali New Year, during Dashain, and on the main day of the full moon.

During the religious ceremony, participants from five nearby villages gather. Laxmi Prasad Awasthi, Chairperson of Navadurga Rural Municipality, stated that it is a tradition for people from Nwaghar, Setigaun, and Bajadi villages to come and participate in the worship.

The worship of Mashta Bhagwati also includes cultural performances, such as the Chala dance, and the singing and playing of the Deuda.

After hailstorms destroyed crops and fruits, famine affected the villages. To prevent such crises, worshipping and performing rituals at Mashta Bhagwati has long been a tradition, said Chairman Awasthi. “Others make vows and sacrifice goats to fulfill their wishes,” he added. It is customary to offer sacrifices after receiving the requested blessings.

The world’s tallest statue of Goddess Bhagawati has been constructed at Mashta Bhagwati—a 45-foot tall statue of the goddess seated on a lion. Chairman Awasthi said the statue was built to promote tourism along with religious faith.

In addition to the statue, separate areas have been designated for conducting businesses during the fair. The temple is located in a scenic area on a circular slope bordered by tall pine trees, straddling Ward No. 1 and 2 of Navadurga Rural Municipality.