President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday visited various shrines in Kathmandu Valley to pay homage to goddess Durga Bhawani to mark the occasion of Maha Astami, the eighth day of the 10-day-long Bada Dashain festival. 

The President visited the Naxal Bhagawati, Guheshwari, Maitidevi, Kalikasthan, Bhadrakali, Mahankal, Sankata, Naradevi, Indrayani and Shova Bhagawati temples and paid homage to the goddesses. She was also offered prasad by the temple priests. 

According to belief, one is blessed with spiritual powers throughout the year if one paid homage at the goddess temples on the day of Maha Astami after performing special worship of goddess Nawa Durga. 

Earlier in the day, President Bhandari went to the Palanchok Bhagawati temple in Kavrepalanchok and paid homage to the goddess Palanchok Bhagawati. Hindus throughout the country on Thursday observed the eighth day of the ten-day long Bada Dasain festival as the Maha Ashtami by worshipping Goddess Durga Bhawani.