Kathmandu, August 28
Hindu women across the country observed Rishipanchami today, a festival dedicated to Arundhati and the Saptarishis (seven sages).
On this day, women wake up early, perform daily rituals, and take ritual baths in nearby rivers, ponds, or lakes after brushing their teeth with 365 stems of datiwan (a medicinal plant). They also cleanse themselves with cow dung, soil, and ash.
The tradition includes worshipping Arundhati along with the Saptarishis—Kashyap, Atri, Bashistha, Bishwamitra, Gautam, Jamadagni, and Bharadwaj—marking the conclusion of the Teej fast.
In Kathmandu, large numbers of devotees thronged Gaurighat and the Risheshwar Temple in Teku to worship the sages and participate in the Rishipanchami fair.
