KATHMANDU: A month-long Purushottam Maas (an intercalary month added to the Hindu lunar calendar roughly every three years), also known as Adhik Maas, fair has begun today at the Matsyanarayan Temple in Machhegaun (Matsyagaun), Kathmandu.

Popularly known as the ‘Malmas fair’, the event attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees from across the Kathmandu Valley and the country.

According to religious beliefs, worshipping Lord Narayan during Purushottam Month is believed to destroy sins and bring merit.

Based on this belief, devotees visit the Matsyanarayan Temple for worship and offerings. The temple premises feature an attractive entrance gate coated with gold paint in the shape of Garuda (legendary divine bird-like creature).

Another main attraction is the one-foot-tall idol of Lord Matsyanarayan emerging from the mouth of a fish, depicted with four arms holding a conch, discus, mace, and lotus.

According to the Puranas, the Matsya incarnation is considered the first of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

It is believed that during the time of cosmic deluge, the fish-form incarnation of the Lord protected the Vedas while serving as a boat in the ocean.

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