October 22: Today (Sunday) marks the eighth day of Dashain festival which is being celebrated across the country by worshipping Goddess Durga.

This day is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali, who is represented in the religious scriptures as the fiercest form of Godess Durga Bhawani. The chronicles of the Hindu scriptures depict Goddess Mahakali of having dark blue skin, wild hair and her red tongue sticking out of her mouth. Mahakali also holds multiple weapons – a severed head, a garland made of human skulls and a bowl to hold the falling blood. Only her husband Lord Shiva can calm her wrath, when Goddess Durga Bhawani takes the form of Mahakali.

Tonight is known as Kaalratri as numerous animal sacrifices are made in different temples to please Goddess Mahakali. Motor vehicles and small arms owned personally are also worshipped on the occasion of Astami. Kaalratri marks one of the four nights of Hindu religion with special importance.

The temples of Goddess Durga in the Kathmandu valley such as  Guhesshwari, Naxal Bhagwati, Kalikasthan, Maitidevi, Sankata, Raktakali, Shova Bhagwati, Dakshinkali and other  shrines bustle with devotees who offer worship to the goddess.