Kathmandu: The festival of Mata Tirtha Aunshi, observed on the Aunsi day of the Krishna Paksha in the month of Baisakh, is being celebrated across Nepal today with devotion, respect, and deep emotional significance. The day is dedicated to honoring mothers and expressing gratitude for their love and sacrifice.

Honoring Mothers
On this occasion, there is a long-standing tradition of children expressing love and respect by offering their mothers good food, gifts, and new clothes, and seeking their blessings. According to religious beliefs, a mother is considered greater than a priest, scholar, teacher, and even a father, making this day especially significant for showing appreciation and devotion.

Families celebrate by gathering together, where children often prepare or serve their mother’s favorite meals. This practice is believed to strengthen family bonds and deepen emotional connections.

Remembering Deceased Mothers
For those whose mothers have passed away, the day is observed differently. It is customary to perform rituals such as tarpan, pindadan, and offerings to priests in memory of the deceased. Through these acts, people pay tribute and express remembrance and respect for their late mothers.

Religious and Cultural Significance
In Vedic tradition, it is believed that every person has responsibilities toward gods, humans, and ancestors. The importance of a mother is emphasized in the saying “Janani Janmabhoomisch Swargadapi Gariyasi,” meaning that mother and motherland are greater than heaven.

Religious texts highlight that a mother, who carries a child for nine months and gives life, holds an immeasurable place in one’s life—often described as even greater than that of a father.

Mata Tirtha Fair and Rituals
On this day, a special fair is traditionally held at Mata Tirtha in Kathmandu. Although the fair had been affected in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains an important spiritual site.

Devotees, especially those who have lost their mothers, visit Mata Tirtha to take a ritual bath and offer prayers to Harihar (Vishnu and Shiva). It is believed that doing so reflects devotion and brings spiritual peace.

A symbolic statue of “Saja Aama” (Universal Mother) has also been installed at the site, promoting the idea of equal respect for all mothers.

Core Message of the Festival

The essence of Mata Tirtha Aunshi lies in cherishing and making one’s living mother happy while also honoring and remembering those who have passed away. It is a day that blends gratitude, remembrance, and cultural values, reinforcing the central role of mothers in family and society.