Haritalika Teej Vrata/Bishwakarma Pooja / Kanya Shankranti / National Film Day/Ganesh Chaturthi Vrata/Rashtriya Dharmasabha Diwas/Wastu Diwas

On the day of Bhadra Shukla Tritiya, Hindu women celebrate Teej with pomp and fanfare by worshiping Lord Shiva, fasting, and dancing. Ganesh Chaturthi and Rishi Panchami are also considered part of Tija. For the protection of husband and family, the women who are fasting today feel as if God himself descends on the earth for unwavering good fortune and eternal fullness.

Mythological connection of Haritalika Teej
Haritalika is also associated with the story of Parvati, in ancient times, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas, did severe penance to get Lord Shiva as her husband, although her penance could not successful due to a mismatch between the method and schedule of penance. According to the legend, Parvati first prayed to Lord Vishnu that Lord Vishnu, the Sustainer, surely knows how to succeed in her penance and that Vishnu made elaborate arrangements regarding fasts, worship, and methods to attain Lord Shiva. According to the information given by Hari, it is said that after Parvati had observed a strict fast and finally succeeded to achieve Lord Shiva as her husband.

Haritalika Teej commemorates the 108 years of penance performed by Mother Parvati to get Lord Shiva. In modern times, there is no such austerity for the bride and groom, however, we all know that many love stories are destroyed by social bonds, economic inequality, and materialistic thinking. With the infinite grace of Mother Parvati, may the love and feelings of lovers always get justice on this earth.
Happy Haritalika Teej

Vishwokarma Pooja

Vishwakarma Pooja is celebrated on the 1st of Asoj, i.e. in the form of worship of Baba Vishwakarma, a scholar of construction and technology production and study. Today, the followers of Vedic Sanatan Hindu religion worship in honor of Baba Vishwakarma in this Vishwakarma Pooja.

Who is Lord Vishwokarma?
Baba is a craft expert for the gods and is the builder of the buildings of each deity, the craftsman of weapons, and the creator and maker of vehicles. According to the scriptures, Vishwakarma was the son of Brahma, who had five sons and an only daughter. His only daughter Sandhya was married to Lord Surya, the owner of global energy and natural resources of heat.

Baba is the inspiration for handicrafts, craftsmen, artisans, and thousands of material creations. Even in today's modern age, most of the garages, factories, manufacturing technology sites and various workplaces active in various metal works in Nepal are decorated and commemorated in honor of the technology and many construction practices and innovations he introduced since the Vedic period. In Vishwakarma Baba's worship, it is customary to set up an idol of Baba and worship it on that day and to ritually integrate that idol in rivers, lakes, and ponds the next day. As vehicles are worshiped today, so public transport may not be readily available today, anyway the post COVID situation in Nepal makes public transport unavailable and hardly available these days, anyway. May every instrument and mechanical achievement of human life always protect us. May the Pitris be saved by the recent sorha shraddha deeds, and may peace prevail, best wishes to all on this day.

Wastu diwas

Vastu Day is also being celebrated today. The architecturel significance of Wastu is given high importance in the construction of houses, temples, chaitya chautari, and townships. It is an ancient science and sub-veda. There is an Eastern belief that physical infrastructure should be built on the basis of Vishwakarma and the integrals of Wastu architecture. It is mentioned in the Wastu Bidhya that if the architecture is constructed by determining the location and direction of natural greatness, Panchamahabhuta sky, air, fire, earth, and water, then prosperity, health, and all welfare will be achieved from it. Today, more people are interested in architecture than in the past. It has become relevant to make the house building strong and beautiful and to get material comforts. At the same time, the day has been spreading public awareness to create a disaster-resistant house and make it a lifelong home.

Kanya Sakranti
Coolness is beginning to be felt under the huge blue sky with the decreasing heat. The rain-soaked soils are now slowly drying up and the paddy fields are starting to crack because of the dryness. Bhadaure Dhan and ghaiya may have been harvested and on the process of being beaten rice for the upcoming Dashain. There are 12 months and 12 solstices in a year. These 12 solstices are classified into 4 categories, Ion, Vishnubha, Vishnupadi, and Sadasitamukhi Sankranti. All Sankrantis are very important for charitable activities. According to the Hindu solar calendar, the first day of the sixth month is Kanya Sankranti. Welcome to the Kanya Sakranti of this year, Sun today moves to Kanya Rashi from Simha Rashi.

Kanya Sakranti is usually an alarm of upcoming Dashain and convoy of festive excitements however, this year brings a huge question mark because of COVID prevalence, hope this planet overcomes this phenomenon and wins over this virus sooner.

Rashtriya Chalachitra diwas: National Cinema Day of Nepal.

Every year Asoj 1 is also celebrated as National Film Day. The Film Development Board has been celebrating this day on the 1st of Asoj every year in 2012 with various programs. In the early days, there was a concept of celebrating this week as a movie week and concluding on the day, but gradually it started celebrating it only on 1st Asoj with various programs.

The Film Development Board is an organization established on June 30, 2000, with the main objective of promoting films and institutional development of filmmakers.

Background of Nepali movie making
Satya Harishchandra, a first Nepali language film produced in Kolkata in 1951 by DB Parajuli. After that, the Nepal-produced film Aama was released on October 7, 1964. After slowly going through various ups and downs, Nepali cinema is now succeeding in projecting its image on the world map. In 2021 BS, the then radio singer and musician Shiv Shankar Manandhar and theater actor Sushri Bhuvan Chand acted in the movie Aama. Then in 2023 BS, another much-awaited Nepali film Maitighar was released. Maitighar, starring Indian actor Mala Sinha and Nepali CP Lohani, went on to become a real-life couple.

Even now, the Maitighar Mandal in Kathmandu has been named Maitighar because it was the office of the production group of the movie Maitighar, at that time. Similarly, in 2024 BS, films like Hijo Aja ra Bholi, in 2028 BS, Parivartan, and Manko Bandh were released. Sometimes with the horror of Ratey Kaila and sometimes with Shankar's roar, sometimes with the death of a truck driver and sometimes with the history of Basanti, the Nepali cinema world has been gaining momentum. Nowadays, Nepali films that went worldwide like Kalo Pothi, Nibna Lako Diyo, and some more. Some touching video documentary and movies like Eric Valley's Caravan and Honey hunter have reintroduced Nepal into the globe through the lens and stories. Early Nepali films made by importing skilled Indian artists and technology are now self-reliant and world-class after 50 years. Nepali wise and hardworking brains and hands who have come and studied in this field are making their bets on camera and screen. With some bitter and some sweet experiences and achievements, Nepali film has reached today's place. The sky is not the limit, my dearest Nepali movie makers, we expect a lot from you.

Aim for the camera and the screen
Let the right scene and dialogue of the society come to the heart in a film
Let's love Nepali movies.

Ganesh Chaturthi Vrata

Ganesh Chaturthi, Puja methods and significance.

:: श्री गणेशाय नम ::
शान्ताकारम् भुजगशयनम् पद्मनाभम् सुरेशम् ।
विश्वाधारम् गगनसदृशम् मेघवर्ण शुभाङ्गम् ।।
लक्षमीकान्तम् कमलनयनम् योगिभिर्ध्यानगम्यम् ।
वंदे विष्णु भवभयहरम् सर्वलोकैकनाथम्

Meaning:
“I bow to Lord Vishnu who preserves and protects the universe, who is pacific, who lies on the divine serpent, from whose navel arises the Lotus with the power of creation, who is the Supreme Being, who holds the entire universe, who is all-pervading as the sky, who is dark like clouds and has a magnificent form. Lakshmi’s lord, one with lotus eye, who is perceived through meditation by the Yogis, I salute you, Lord Vishnu, who removes the fear of worldly existence and who is the Lord of all worlds”.

Birthday of Lord Ganesh
There is a classical belief that Lord Ganesha was born on the day of Bhadra Shukla Chaturthi in the Satyayuga. On this occasion, the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha has been celebrated in the temples of the country including Ashok Binayak, Chandra Binayak, Suryavinayak, Kamal Binayak and Kamaladi Ganesh with special worship. Ganesh, the son of Shiva Parvati, has the right to get first worship in any religious act.

Today is Sankashti Chaturti , also known as Herumb Sankashti Chaturthi. Lord Ganesha is worshiped on Sankashti Chaturthi or Ganesh Charurthi. On this day, women fast for the long life of their sons and daughters. On this day, fasting Lord Ganesha also increases happiness, prosperity, knowledge, and wisdom. Worshiping Ganesha on this day leads to the attainment of virtue and all distress is removed.

Fasting on Sankashti Chaturthi brings special blessings of Lord Ganpati. Special boon can be obtained by worshiping Ganesha. Especially the problem of health can be eradicated forever.

Sankashti Chaturthi Puja method
On Sankashti Chaturthi, one should wake up in the morning and take a bath. Wear clean clothes. Install the idol of Lord Ganesha on a red or yellow cloth. Start worshiping God now. Take the resolution of the fast with folded hands. Offer water, akshat, dubo grass, laddu, paan, incense, etc. to Ganesha during auspicious time. After this, chant Ganesh Ji's mantra oom Gan Ganpataye Namah. Light a lamp of ghee. Pray to God. Then offer them prasad. In the evening, offer the moon with honey, sandalwood, mixed milk. It is considered necessary to offer arghya to the moon during this Chaturthi.


Rastriya Dharma Sava Diwas, Nepal

Background of Rastriya Dharmasava in Nepal
Every year since 2066 BS, it is customary to celebrate the National Dharmasabha Day on the 9th of Bhadra every year. Taking you back to Nepal about 100 years ago, when Chandrashamser was the Prime Minister of Nepal. The first Dharmasabha was held in BS 1961 when Chandrashamser invited all the scholars and pundits to hold a week-long Dharmasabha. After that Dharmasabha, the official and formal Bikram Samvat of Nepal took place.

Modern Nepal and its context to dharma Sava
Nepal, full of Sanatan rites and traditions, is a country united in diversity and will build a common ground to protect all religions, communities, and traditions through the Dharmasabha. In 2066 BS, the then government of Nepal tried to take three insensitive decisions. It was a government step to make it a year of only 11 months and establish AD as a formal Nepali calendar. Besides, the decision to have a Nepali Bhatt priest in Pashupati was also taken at that time.

Vikram Samvat itself is multi-faced, the scientific aspect and features of Nepal Samvat and AD. Both are integrated in this ancient Vikram Sambat, not only scientific but also a link to Nepali identity. After that insensitive decisions of the communists led goverment, the Dharmasabha was formally registered for the protection of Nepali tradition. Guru Madhav Bhattarai also told Hamro Patro that it is customary to celebrate the National Dharmasabha every year on the day of Ganesh Chaturthi after Teej.

In this way, for the protection of Vedic Sanatan practice, identity, Vedic customs, and other religions and cultures in Nepali culture, the Dharmasabha also works closely with the Panchang Nirnayak Samiti, including the inclusion of festivals and dates in the annual calendar. Every year, the Dharmasabha Committee holds a Pandit Conference and protects and promotes the rules and regulations, including dates and festivals.

May this year's Dharmasabha Day take a pioneering step in preserving the identity, faith, traditions, and customs of Nepalis in the years to come? Mobile companion, a synonym of Nepalijan, Hamro Patro wishes Dharmasabha Day to all its users.

Suyog Dhakal