Dec 23, Kathmandu: Hindus in the country are collecting kush, a holy grass used while performing various holy rituals such as Shraddha (holy rituals remembering the departed ancestors) and religious rituals, across the country on Friday.

The Gokaneshwor Mahadev Temple on the northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu has witnessed a large influx of devotees on the occasion of Bhadra Krishna Munshi, also known as Kushe Aunshi or Gokarna Aunshi. The festival is celebrated as Father’s Day by Hindus of Nepal.

Devotees have thronged Gokarneshwar Pitri Tirth Dham in the capital since early this morning to perform Darsh and Tirtha or Gaya Shraddha, which is held every year on the day of Paush Krishna Aunshi. Devotees from different parts of the country have come to the  Gokarneshwor Uttar Gaya Dham area to perform Darsh and Tirtha or Gaya Shraddha which is performed on the day of Paush Krishna Aunshi every year according to the lunar month.

Since 6 o'clock in the morning, devotees have started coming to the  Gokarneshwor to perform Shraddha in the name of ancestors, Gokarneshwar municipality ward -4 chairman  Jairam Mahatale, and chairman of the temple area management committee, informed.

Also known as the day of Gokarne Aunshi, the children feed their fathers with delicious food items including sweets and show reverence. It is also called Father's Day. There is a religious belief that keeping the kush cut by the priests and anointed with sacred verses or mantras in the house brings well-being to the household. The Hindu community regards kush, Tulashi (basil plant), peepal, and shaligram (ammonite stone) as the symbols of Lord Bishnu.

As per the religious belief of 'pitridevo bhava' (respect to ancestors), the son and daughter receive blessing from their fathers, and those whose fathers are already dead go to any pilgrimage site and perform shraddha, the holy ritual. Doing this, it is believed that, their lineage will remain stable forever. The main pilgrimage sites to perform shraddha are Gokarna of Kathmandu, Betrawati of Rasuwa, and Bishnupaduka of Dharan.

Similarly, the 150th birth anniversary of Nepali litterateur Motiram Bhatta is being celebrated across the nation by organizing different programs. Born in Kushe Aunshi in 1923 BS, Bhatta died in Kushe Aunshi in 1953BS at the age of 30. Despite his short life, Bhatta had a remarkable contribution to Nepali literature.

Kushe Aunshi is celebrated by remembering and paying respect to fathers for their care and love for family members. Those having lost their fathers remember them by going to temples, conducting shraddha, and offering sida to priests.  Conducting shraddha and offering sida and pinda on this day is believed to be helping deceased ancestors’ souls get satisfied and leave the world easily.