September 28, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n Nepali Hindus are observing the eighth important day of the 15-day long Dashain festival called Maha Astami, today.<\/p>\n The Maha Astami festival marks the worshipping of one of the significant forms of Goddess Durga called Goddess Mahakali, and the night of this day is celebrated as Kalaratri<\/em>.<\/p>\n Other key forms of the Goddess including Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati are also worshipped on this occasion, considered as the day on which Goddess Durga attained power.<\/p>\n The fervor of worship that began from the first Dashain<\/a> day and the sacrifice to Goddess Durga increases today.<\/p>\n Religious rituals are performed at Dashain Ghars and devotees visit various shrines of Goddess Durga to offer sacrifices of different animals such as goats, buffaloes and ducks.<\/p>\n Devotees also read the holy Durga Saptashati scriptures and also offer special worship to weapons, vehicles and machinery.<\/p>\n A special Kalaratri worship is performed at midnight at the Dashain Ghar<\/a> of Hanumandhoka in Kathmandu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" September 28, 2017 Nepali Hindus are observing the eighth important day of the 15-day long Dashain…<\/span><\/p>\n