The Taleju Bhawani Temple at Hanumandhoka Durbar Square welcomed the public today on the occasion of Maha Nawami, the concluding day of the Navaratri festival. The sacred temple opens just once a year on this special day.
From the early hours of the morning, long queues of devotees formed to offer prayers and worship at the temple, which is regarded as the presiding deity (Ishta Devata) of the Newar community. Taleju, revered as a manifestation of divine power and the mother goddess, is also known by the name Tulja.
The goddess was brought to the Mulchok courtyard of Hanumandhoka Palace on the day of Phulpati and will be returned to the main temple on Vijayadashami. On the night of Maha Ashtami, the Kalaratri Puja was performed in the Mulchok, during which 54 goats and 54 buffaloes were sacrificed. This ritual, conducted using Tantric methods, is believed to bestow strength for state governance.
On Maha Nawami, special worship of Goddess Durga is carried out at the Dashain Ghar, the Kot courtyard, and at various shrines and Shakti Peeths. The rituals include animal sacrifices of goats, ducks, chickens, and buffaloes, accompanied by the recitation of sacred texts such as the Durga Saptashati (Chandi), Shrimad Devi Bhagavat, and other hymns dedicated to the goddess.
The Taleju Bhawani Temple, traditionally opened to the public only once a year, remained closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2021, it reopened after the risk of transmission declined following widespread vaccination efforts.
