Devotees throng Shakti Peeths on sixth day of Navratri, Kumari views Pachali Bhairav

Devotees have thronged the Shakti Peeths of Kathmandu Valley for darshan on the sixth day of Navratri today.

On this day of the Durga fortnight, the goddess Katyayani has been duly worshipped in Dasain rooms and prayer rooms in homes. Since early morning, crowds of devotees have been seen at the Shakti Peeths of Kathmandu. The number of visitors is also rising at the peeths in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

During Navratri, the nine forms of Navadurga are worshipped over nine days, starting with Shailaputri on the first day and ending with Siddhidatri on the ninth. In many places the prasad from the nine days of worship is offered from Vijaya Dashami until Kojagrat Purnima, though in some families, as per family custom, it is offered only on Dashami.

Meanwhile, the living goddess Kumari has viewed Pachali Bhairav at Hanuman Dhoka. It is traditional every year to show Bhairav to the Kumari on the night of Asoj Shukla Panchami. A procession carrying a symbol of Bhairav in a ghyampo set out with musical bands from the Pachali Peeth in Kathmandu Metropolitan City-12.

The procession circled the inner city, including Teku, Lagan, Jyabahal, Maru, Dalache and Yengal. Crowds of the public gathered along the route for darshan. The viewing is carried out in the popular belief that it empowers the Kumari. It is also popularly believed that Bhairav was established at Teku to protect the Valley and its people from evil forces. The Newar community regards the Bhairav Jatra as one of its major festivals.