By: Sweta Singh/Kathmandu /All India Radio & Doordarshan
Lakhs of devotees pay obeisance and worship Shri Swasthani and Madhav Narayan during the month-long fair that takes place in Shankhu district of Kathmandu valley. People visit the Bajrayogini Temple that carries ancient, historical, cultural and touristic importance.
On visit to Shalinadi in Shankharapur municipality this Sunday, President of Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel expressed the belief that the state will give special attention to the development of Bajrayogini and Shalinadi area, which, he said, has historical importance from the time of then princess Bhrikuti and Songtsen Gampo. He participated in the Madhavanarayan Mela as part of the Shree Swasthani Brata Katha and performed worship at the Bajrayogini temple.
Shalinadi and Madhavanarayan temples are important from mythological, cultural and religious point of view. A month long festival is organised in Swasthani Temple premise starting from full moon day of Month of Magh as per Bikram Samvat. Devotees take bath in pious river shali in the morning, offer puja to goddess swasthani recite religious hymns and story and fast for a month. Madhav Narayan statue is taken for city round from Changu Narayan temple to Pashupatinath temple, finally placed near river Shali where it is worshipped until completion of Swasthani festival. Around 300,000 devotees visit the Shalinadi fair every year.