Devotees have gathered at Budhanilkantha in Kathmandu to celebrate Haribodhini Ekadashi. This festival marks the end of four months of special devotion to Lord Bishnu, beginning on Harishayani Ekadashi. During these months, devotees observe the Tulsi Brat (fast) and perform special worship. Today, the festival is celebrated with the symbolic marriage of Tulsi to Damodar, an incarnation of Bishnu.
Special celebrations are also taking place at the four Narayan temples around the Kathmandu Valley: Changu Narayan in Bhaktapur, Bishankhu Narayan in Lalitpur, Shesh Narayan, and Ichangu Narayan in Kathmandu. For those unable to visit these four temples, it is a common belief that visiting Budhanilkantha, located north of Kathmandu, holds the same spiritual significance as visiting all four Narayan temples.
The temple management committee has announced that all preparations are complete for the festival, which will run from today until Kartik Shukla Purnima (the full moon day). Each year, on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, the festival of Haribodhini Ekadashi is celebrated by symbolically marrying Tulsi to Damodar and performing special worship to honour Lord Vishnu.
