A grand procession held in Ningalashaini on Chaite Ashtami

By Keshab Raj Bhatta,Basuling, Baitadi, Mar.  27: On the occasion of Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, also known as Chaite Dashain, a large crowd of devotees gathered at various goddess temples across the country, including Baitadi. The temples have been bustling with worship since the morning.

A grand procession was organised on Thursday, the eighth day of Ashtami, at the famous Ningalashaini Bhagwati Temple in Baitadi, where regular worship has been taking place since the Pratipada of Chaite Navratri. According to the temple’s treasurer, Chakra Bahadur Bohara, the procession will conclude with a sacrifice on Chaitra Ashtami.

A significant number of devotees have been seen worshipping and visiting temples in the district, including Ningalashaini, Melauli, and Tripura. It is believed that worshipping the goddess on Chaite Dashain brings happiness, peace, and the fulfillment of wishes.

Devotees from various parts of Nepal, as well as from bordering regions of India, come to pay their respects to Ningalashaini Bhagwati. This has also made the temple area a center of religious tourism.

There is a tradition of holding processions four times a year at the Ningalashaini Bhagwati Temple. 

Sacrificial processions are held on Maha Ashtami during Dashain and on Chaitra Ashtami, while additional processions take place on the full moon day of Mangsir (Dhanya Purnima) and the fourth day of Bhadra (Ananta Chaturdashi).