Archana Gurung
Kathmandu, dec 31
The first day of the month-long Swasthani fasting has begin from today. Devotees throng the Shali river in Shankhu from early this morning.
Every year, the Shali river witnesses a religious fair from full moon day of Poush to the full moon day of Magh. It is believed that their wishes come true if they take a holy dip in the river in the morning and worship Goddess Swosthani in the afternoon. According to the myth, Goddess Parvati begun worshiping a Shivalinga on the bank of the river on the full moon day of the month of Poush in the Satyayuga wishing to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Her wish had come true at the end of the month-long devotion. During this festival, mostly unmarried women throng the Shali River as it is believed that they get husbands of their choice if they take a bath in the river and worship the goddess throughout the month.
However, married women also take a dip in the holy river with the belief that the holy bath and worshipping of the goddess leads to family happiness and peace.
