Santoshi Mata is a goddess in Hindu folklore and is much celebrated by North Indians including many from Nepal. She is "the Mother of Satisfaction". A vrata (ritual fast) called the Santoshi Maa vrata performed by women on 16 consecutive Fridays wins the Goddess' favor. It is believed that she was born on the day of Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi, also known as Janai Purnima in Nepal. Venus and Neptune are said to be her grahas (planets with significance in the Nepali birth calendar and life of a Hindu). There are very few temples dedicated to Maata Santoshi in Kathmandu. One of the main temples is at Nag Pokhari; just inside the premises of the pond.
According to Bimala Tiwari, the temple was constructed in the year 2051/52 B.S. Every Friday the temple is opened from morning 4 a.m to evening 8 p.m where many devotees come and worship Goddess Santoshi Mata. During the worship and vartas (ritual fast) devotees abstain eat fish, tomatoes, sour foods, onions, and so on. She further stated that Goddess Santoshi Mata's varta (religious fast) is far stricter than other vartas.
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