Dhanurmas Puja Held At Pashupatinath Temple

The Dhanurmas Puja has been performed at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. This ritual is carried out when the Sun is in the Sagittarius (Dhanu) zodiac sign. Before the puja, on Tuesday morning, the Pashupatinath idol was bathed with hot water to protect him from the cold.
As the Sun stays in the Sagittarius zodiac sign throughout the month of Poush, this puja is observed every year during this month, in a auspicious time.  Due to the cold weather starting from Bala Chaturdashi, it has become a tradition to bathe Pashupatinath with hot water.

According to tradition, the Dhanurmas Puja is conducted from midnight to the early hours of the morning, as confirmed by Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, the spokesperson of the temple management committee.

After the Dhanurmas Puja, khichdi made from a local grain is offered to Pashupatinath. Following the all-night puja, on Wednesday, it is believed that the Lord will observe a fast.

On the fasting day, mustard oil is applied to Pashupatinath in the morning. It is believed that after the oil is applied, Pashupatinath takes a sunbath at Shivapuri Hill. In the evening, an aarti is performed with the belief that Pashupatinath returns after warming up in the sun at Shivapuri Hill."