Goura Festival Begins in Sudurpaschim

Dadeldhura. The vibrant indigenous festival of Sudurpaschim, Goura, has officially begun today. This festival, which starts on the fifth day of the waxing moon in Bhadra, is being celebrated today with the ritual of keeping 'Biruda' in every household. Today is known as Biruda Panchami. On this day, fasting women begin the Goura festival by soaking 'Biruda' (five types of grains and legumes) at home.< p>

The tradition is to prepare Biruda by soaking pulses like mas, kalau, gahat, wheat, and gurush in a copper pot, which is first cleaned with cow dung and then decorated with dubo grass and akshata. Biruda is considered Prasad for Gauri. Biruda is also used in the worship of Gauradevi. According to Khageshwori Bhatt, 78, from Alital, Dadeldhura, the Goura festival officially begins on Biruda Panchami in the month of Bhadra after observing the Putrada Ekadashi fast.< p>