Devotees throng Matatirtha to pay homage to deceased mothers
Devotees are seen congregating at Matatirtha in Chandragiri Municipality-6 to perform ceremonial offerings (Tarpan, Shraddha) and worship in memory of their late mothers.
Spokesperson at Chandragiri Municipality Krishna Prasad Khadgi said that devotees have been taking holy dip, and performing ceremonial offering and worship at Matatirtha since 3 am today.
People without mothers take holy dip and offer worship to Harihar (combined form of Lord Bishnu and Shiva) at the sacred site early in the morning.
It is widely believed that taking holy bath at Matatirtha pond brings peace to the departed mother.
On the premises of the sacred site, a statue called 'Sajha Aama' which symbolizes all mothers, has also been installed by sculptor Ramkrishna Bhandari.
Every year, those without mothers go there, take bath in the pond, offer delicacies and other food items, and celebrate Mother's Day.
To manage the fair, the Matatirtha Fair Management Committee along with local social organizations have been mobilized.
Fire breaks out at Janakpur Refineries Company in Dhanusha
A fire broke out at the Janakpur Refineries Company at the Dhalekbar-based Mithila Municipality-7 in Dhanusha district.
In the fire that occurred last night, the company lost nearly Rs 150 million as key machines were gutted to cinders, Manager Sanjaya Gupta said.
The Janakpur Refineries Company is involved in the refined oil processing business.
The fire was brought under control in two hours by the firefighters and security personnel by mobilizing five fire engines from Janakpur, Mahendranagar and Dhalkebar in the district.
Police Inspector of the Area Police Office Laxman KC said that it could take some days to estimate the total loss caused from the fire.
The reason behind the fire has not been ascertained yet, police said.
Partly cloudy weather likely across the country
There is a partial influence of westerly and local winds in the country and has led to partly cloudy weather conditions in most parts of the country today.
The weather is generally cloudy in the Himalayan region, partly cloudy in the hilly region and generally fair in the Tarai region.
The Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology shared that light rain and snowfall is taking place in one or two places of the hilly and Himalayan regions of the Koshi Province.
This afternoon, generally cloudy conditions are expected in the hills and Himalayan regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces.
There is a possibility of light rain and snowfall at one or two places in the hills and Himalayan regions of Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.
Later tonight, generally cloudy conditions are expected in the hills and Himalayan regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces, and partly cloudy in the Tarai area of the Koshi Province and the hilly regions of the other remaining provinces.
Matatirtha Aunsi being celebrated (With photos)
Matatirtha Aunsi or Mother’s Day is being celebrated in honour of mothers with devotion across the country today.
This festival is considered a day of devotion, respect, and recognition of mothers, who are revered as greater than priests and fathers in the religious scriptures, and a day to seek blessings from them.
It is customary for children to get up early this morning, take a bath, dress their mother in beautiful clothes, and feed her with sweets to seek her blessings and recognize her contributions and very important roles in the family and society.
Those who have already lost their mother remember them and the great and difficult deeds she accomplished by making offerings to her soul and offering food to the needy in her remembrance.
Ancient Vedic scriptures highlight the importance of mother and the motherland in the noble saying, ‘Janani Janmabhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi’, meaning that the mother who gives birth and the motherland are greater and more loving than heaven, said Theologist and a Member of the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, Prof. Dr Devmani Bhattarai.
He said it is mentioned in the scriptures that the importance of a mother is a thousand times greater than that of a father. Because of such importance, the living mother is honoured and served with sweet delicacies and gifts while offerings are made in the name of the deceased mother with devotion.
On this occasion, a fair is held today at Mata Tirtha in Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu while many visit temples and gather at river confluences and banks to pray for eternal peace for their late mothers.
Those with a living mother visit her with various gifts while seeking her blessings.
