On the day of Krishna Janmashtami, Kanya is worshipped in various places in Kavre

Kathmandu, August 10. Kanya Pujan was performed at Kavre on the occasion of Shri Krishna Janmashtami on Monday.

The ‘Kanyapuja’ (girls who do not menstruate), which started in Banepa 122 years ago, is worshipped every year on this day. Surkrishna Vaidya, founder of the V.No. Sanatan Kanya-Puja Management Committee, said Kanya is worshipped every year on Krishna Janmashtami day since 1959.

According to him, Kanya Puja has also been conducted over the years in various places in the district like Khadpu, Sanga, Janagal, Budol, 28 Kilo, Palanchok etc. In Banepa alone, around 7,000 girls will be worshipped while 10,000 girls will be worshipped in Kavrepalachok.

During Kanya Puja, Kanya laskarai is located on the right and left side of the road from Bholakhan tol, Tindhara and Old Bazaar to Chardobato. Devotees from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and neighbouring areas also come to worship the Mother Mother.

During Kanya Puja, 135 devotees distributed Danakshina and prasad, swari and malpuwa, money, jerry, biscuits, chokada, cashew nuts and various sweets through committees. As per custom, every girl who participated in the puja applied pure mustard oil on her head.

It was believed that those who worshipped a non-menstruating, unmarried virgin would become healthy and “spiritually full.”

The ‘Bhochibhoya’ people of Banepa are believed to be the descendants of Chandeswari and hence the maiden is now worshipped without any discrimination of caste or class.In Bholakhan tol of Banepa-9, Kanya Puja begins only after worshipping Ganesha and Kumar.

According to legend, once upon a time, a man from the Newar community in Banepa, after going through a lot of hardships, placed his girl in a corner of his house to worship her. Initially, only non-menstruating girls from the Newar community were worshipped, but after some time, girls from all castes were included in the worship.

In Kanyapaoja, a team of actors from Nepali films Bar and Badhu including Aanchal Sharma, Kiran KC, Vijay Lama, Bivek Karmacharya, Rabindra Khadka, Kusum Sharma distributed coffee, biscuits and other supplies.