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 through sacred mantras ensures the well-being and prosperity of the household.
The Hindu community regards kush, tulsi (holy basil), peepal (sacred fig), and shaligram (ammonite stone) as symbols associated with Lord Vishnu.
The day is also observed as Father’s Day, or Gokarne Aunsi. On this occasion, people honor their fathers by presenting them with gifts and sweets and expressing their love and respect.
Major marketplaces in the capital bustle since early morning as people shop for sweets, fruits, and gifts for their fathers.
Following the belief of ‘pitridevo bhava’, which holds that fathers and ancestors are revered as gods, sons and daughters seek their fathers’ blessings on this day. Those whose fathers have passed away visit pilgrimage sites to perform shraddha, a sacred ritual in remembrance of the deceased. It is believed that such rituals bring peace to departed souls and blessings to the family lineage.
A special fair is being held today at the Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple in the northeastern part of Kathmandu, an area regarded as Uttargaya. For this reason, today’s Aunsi is also known as Gokarne Aunsi.
A large number of devotees gather at the Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple on the occasion to perform tarpan, pinda daan, and sidha daan in memory of their deceased fathers.
The day also marks the birth anniversary of renowned Nepali litterateur Motiram Bhatta, who made significant contributions to the development and enrichment of Nepali language and literature. The 160th Moti Jayanti is being observed across the country with various commemorative programmes.
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