Rasmi Bhujel, a 12- year-old Grade 5 pupil, was gathering firewood in a cool Tuesday morning on the banks of the Sali River in Sankhu, some 15 kilometers away from the capital.
Dressed in traditional red kurtha-salwar but barefoot, Rasmi looked fresh although it was her third day of the month-long Swasthani fasting that is being observed by Hindu women like her.
The fasting is a form of sacrifice by Hindu women as part of their devotion to Goddess Swasthani.
The month-long fasting in honor of Hindu Goddess Swasthani started in Nepal this week coinciding with the first full moon day of Nepali month of Poush.
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| Women performing fasting in Salinadi of Sakhu, KTM |
Swasthani, a Hindu goddess, is believed to bring good fortune to devotee. There is a strong belief that if one observes the Swasthani fasting for one month, his or her every wish would be granted.
Most Hindu women observe fasting at home while others perform the monthly ritual in a holy place called "Salinadi."
"We usually wake up at 4 a.m. then take a holy dip in the river. At noontime, we listen to stories about Goddess Swasthani. We fast the whole day and eat only in the evening with a purely vegetarian dish," 30-year-old Rupa Bhattarai, a mother of two, said.
The fasting requires some rules such as removing negative thoughts from one's mind, avoiding the use of soap or shampoos during bathing, and walking barefoot for one month. They are not also allowed to sit on chairs, sleep on a bed or touch anybody.
They also visit temples like Pashupatinath, Panauti, Changunarayan and Pharping.
Even with the strict rules, both married and unmarried women have been enthusiastic in observing the fasting with utmost patience and dedication.
Hindu devotees also recite and listen to the stories called " Swasthani brata katha" which are being told in every household.
The story consists of 31 chapters, which mostly revolve around Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parbati.
In Salinadi, there are 244 women and 14 men observing fasting this year. Their ages range from 12 to 61.
With a strong devotion to please Goddess Swasthani and to make their wishes come true, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims throng the Madhav-Narayan fair in Salinadi for a month. Though fasting is not observed by everyone, people take a holy bath in the river and pray for happiness and prosperity. The fasting of Goddess Swasthani ends on the full moon of the next Nepali month of Magh.
Published in Xinhua, Jan 7, 2014
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