Dashain: the main festival of Nepal

Receiving tika

Celebration of victory of good over evil, Dashain is the main festival of Nepal. Lasting for 15 days, it is the most auspicious and anticipated festival celebrated by Hindus worldwide. Starting from bright lunar fortnight of the month of Ashoj and ending on the full moon, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth.

Why is it celebrated?

According to Hindu mythology, the demons or Asuras tried to defeat the Devas, or Gods, and capture Heaven. The leader Mahishasura created terror and havoc on the earth. In order to kill the demon, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva created Durga with ten hands and gave their special weapons to her. Riding a lion, the goddess Durga fought a battle with Mahishasura for nine days. On the tenth day, Durga finally defeated and killed him symbolizing the victory.

The festival also symbolizes the victory of Rama over Ravana as in the Ramayana.

Other names of the Dashain

Dashain is also called by different names such as Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami. The name “Dussehra” is derived from Sanskrit Dahsa-hara literally meaning Dasha as name of the devil and Hara as defeat referring to Lord Rama’s victory over the ten-headed demon king Ravana.

The name Vijaya Dashami is also derived from the Sanskrit words “Vijaya-dashami” literally meaning the victory on the dashami (Dashami as the tenth day of the Hindu calendar month) signifying the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasur.

Children playing on bamboo swings

Forms of celebration

As the festival approaches, it is celebrated in different forms of celebration. Bamboo swings are constructed in many parts of the country. Made from bamboo sticks and ropes, these “pings” are especially famous with the children. Flying kites has also become a very important part of celebrating Dashain.

Playing cards is another way of celebrating Dashain where the older members pass their time by getting together and playing cards with each other for money and fun all day long.

Dashain also means buying and wearing of new clothes. For poor people, it is the only time when they buy new clothes.

Tika and jamara

How is it celebrated?

This year, 13th of October marked the beginning of Dashain. The first day of this festival is known as “Ghatasthapana”. On this day, “Dashain ghar” or a special worship room is set up where a Kalas or a pot symbolizing Durga is filled with soil and sand and seeds of barley are sown. It is then covered and kept away from direct sunlight. Holy water is sprinkled to it every day so that by the tenth day of the festival the seeds will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. This sacred grass is known as jamara. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a blessing of Goddess Durga as well as the elders.

Regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called “Fulpati”. On this day, jamara, banana stalks, sugarcane tied with red cloth is brought from the ancestral Royal Gorkha palace by Brahmins to Kathmandu. It is placed in a palanquin under a gold-tipped ornate umbrella and taken to Tundikhel where hundreds of government officials and the President of Nepal gather to witness the event. A majestic display of the Nepalese Army along with a celebratory firing of weapons is performed honoring Fulpati. The Fulpati is then taken to the residence of the President.   

The eighth day is called “Maha Asthami”. On this day, Goddess Durga and the blood thirty Kali (manifestation of Durga) is appeased through the sacrifice of animals throughout the nation. The night of this day is called “Kal Ratri (Black Night). The courtyard of Hanuman Dhoka Palace is active throughout the night with worships and sacrifices.

The ninth day known as “Maha Navami” is the last day before the real Dashain. The Taleju temple at Hanuman Dhoka is opened to public only once a year on this day. Thousands of people go and pay respect to the goddess. On this day, the official military sacrifices are held in the “Kot” courtyard at Hanuman Dhoka. Vishvakarma, the god of creation is also worshipped on Mana Navami. Artisans, craftsmen, traders and mechanics worship their machinery tools and instruments. People also worship their vehicles to avoid accidents for the year.

The tenth day of the festival is the “Dashami”. On this day, Tika is prepared from a mixture of rice, yoghurt and vermillion. Elders put this tika and jamara which is sown on the first day of the festival on the forehead of younger relatives blessing them. Elders also give “Dakshina”, a small amount of money to younger relatives. This continues for five more days till the full moon. During this period, family members and distant relatives visit each other to exchange gifts and greetings.

Before the collapse of the monarchy system in Nepal, thousands of people ranging from the ministers, diplomats and general public used to gather in the old royal palace to receive tika and blessing from the King. Now, the President of Nepal who is considered the head of the state has been continuing the trend.

The last day of the festival is called “Kojagrata Purnima” meaning “who is awake”. On this day, Goddess Laxmi who is believed to be the goddess of wealth is worshipped.

Hence, with fun and fervor, the festival is ended with reunion and happiness with family members and relatives.