Kathmandu, Oct 11: President Ramchandra Paudel, together with First Lady Sabita Paudel, worshipped nine minor girls (nawa kanya puja) as per the Vedic rites on the occasion of the Sharadiya Durga Pooja today.
They paid homage to the nine virgins at a religious ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas.
The nine virgins symbolize the nine different forms of goddess Durga who is worshipped and venerated as the goddess of power during the Navaratra (nine nights) of the 10-day Bada Dashain festival.
The nine forms of goddess Durga include Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kusmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
