KATHMANDU: Kushe Aunsi, also known as Father’s Day, is being observed across the country today.
Hindus celebrate Kushe Aunsi by bringing kush—a sharp-edged sacred grass—into their homes. According to religious beliefs, kush brought by priests and sanctified with sacred mantras ensures the well-being of the household, said religious expert Prof. Dr. Ramchandra Gautam.
The Hindu community regards kush, tulsi (holy basil), peepal (sacred fig), and shaligram (ammonite stone) as symbols of Lord Vishnu.
The day is also celebrated as Father’s Day or Gokarne Aunsi. On this occasion, people honor their fathers by offering gifts and delicious foods, including sweets, and by showing reverence and love.
Major marketplaces in the capital have been bustling since early morning, as people shop for sweets, fruits, and gifts for their fathers.
Following the religious belief of pitridevo bhava (ancestors are like gods), sons and daughters seek blessings from their fathers. Those whose fathers have passed away visit pilgrimage sites to perform shraddha—a holy ritual in remembrance of the deceased. It is believed that by doing so, the family lineage will remain stable and blessed.
A special fair is held today on the premises of the Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple in the northeastern part of Kathmandu, a place especially known as Uttargaya. For this reason, today’s Aunsi is also called Gokarne Aunsi.
On this occasion, a large crowd gathers at the Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple to offer tarpan, pinda daan, and sidha daan in memory of departed fathers.
The day also marks the birth anniversary of renowned Nepali litterateur Motiram Bhatta, who made significant contributions to the enrichment of the Nepali language and literature. The 160th Moti Jayanti is being observed across the country with various commemorative programmes.
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