Dashain ends with Kojagrat Purnima; pahur ritual at Janaki temple, president at Navadurga temple

Nepal's main Dashain festival formally concluded on Sunday with Kojagrat Purnima. The custom of applying tika and jamara, which began with Vijayadashami on Kartik 4, is also ending today.

At the Janaki temple in Janakpurdham, 108 "bhar" (loads) of pahur have been brought in from Rautauli in Pipara Rural Municipality, Mahottari, for the "chumawan" ritual of Ram and Sita. The Thakur family of Rautauli has upheld this tradition for 142 years. The pahur includes betel leaf, makhana, laddus, rice, lentils, vegetables and clothing for the deities. Family member Naveen Thakur said he is committed to not letting this tradition break under any circumstances. According to Mahanth Ramroshan Das Vaishnav, successor of the temple, special devotional singing and Mithila's traditional comic performances have also been arranged for the occasion.

According to the President's Office, President Ramchandra Paudel will perform Kojagrat worship at the Navadurga temple in Bhaktapur at 3 pm.

Biruwa Rural Municipality in Syangja has declared a public holiday on Monday for the Purnima fair held at the Manakamana temple. Members of Srikhanda Tarumul Mahavihar in Kathmandu's Basantapur celebrated Mohani Nakha by receiving tika from the living deities Ganesh, Bhairav and Kumari.

As people who had left for Dashain begin returning, traffic on roads and public transport in Kathmandu Valley has increased. Meanwhile, traditions such as Tulsi worship, Kartik bathing and Akashdeep donations, along with Bhaktapur's Navadurga forest procession, are set to begin.