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.

Indra Jatra - the festival of classical dances

Swet Bhairab mask

Indra Jatra is one the biggest religious street festival that is being held today. Celebrated for eight days, this festival is dedicated to the deity Indra - the king of the gods and the ruler of heaven.

As Indra’s mother: Dagini prepares for a ritual prayer, she realizes that she still needs a white flower, parijat, to offer during the worship and she asks her son to run quickly to get her the flower. Lord Indra himself takes his vahan (the white elephant, Pulukishi) and sprints down to Kilagal.  There he leaves his elephant behind and disguises himself as a farmer to sneak into Maru tole which was a beautiful green garden.

After finding the flowers, he then tries to return back to his elephant but is captured by the gardener. No matter how much he pleads, he is tied and taken as a captive. His mother begins to get worried after his long absence and searches for him. In finding her son, Dagini reveals his identity and the people, realizing who they had captured, announce that they will send Indra back home with a huge celebration. And to witness it, they invite their Living Gods, Kumari, Ganesh, and Bhairav to bid him farewell. In return for his release, Dagini promises to spread dew over the crops for the coming months and to take back with her to heaven all those who had died in the past year. Hence, family members deceased in the past year are also remembered during the festival.

Onlookers watching the procession at the Durbar Square

Known as Yenyā in Nepal Bhasa meaning "Kathmandu festival", the celebrations consist of two events. Indra Jatra is marked by masked dances of deities and demons, displays of sacred images and tableau in honor of the deity Indra, the king of heaven. The other event is Kumari Jatra, the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari.

The Indra Jatra festival thus honours the recently deceased and pays homage to Indra and Dagini for the coming harvests. It begins when a long, wooden pole is placed outside the Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu. At the same time images and representations of Indra, usually as a captive, are displayed; the screened doors obscuring the horrific face of Seto (White) Bhairab are also opened for the next three days.

Kumari - the Living Goddess

On the third day of the festival of Indra Jatra, the living goddess Kumari ventures out in a chariot in the procession. Kumari, is said to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Chariots of Kumari, Ganesha and Bhairav move around the city for three days. According to the Hindu faith, Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati who has the head of an elephant. Bhairav is one of the forms of Lord Shiva.

Depicting as Lord Ganesha

It is on this day that president of Nepal including all high level officer of Nepal government attends the festivities to greet the Living Goddess. The procession then continues towards Hanuman Dhoka where it stops in front of the huge seto Bhairab mask. The Kumari greets the image of Bhairab and then, with loud musical accompaniment, beer starts to pour from Bhairab’s mouth! Getting a sip of this beer is guaranteed to bring good fortune.

Lakhe dance

Throughout the festival, intriguing masked dances like Pulu Kishi (elephant dance), Lakhe, Sawa Bhakhu and Mahakali dance are staged in Kathmandu Durbar Square, in the neighborhood of the Kumari Temple. 'Dasha Avataras' are also enacted by the artists. The 'Dasha Avataras' refer to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu - the Supreme God. History records that it was on this day that Nepal was unified. Numerous other processions also take place around the town until the final day when the great pole is lowered and carried down to the river.

Teej: for the longevity of husbands

Women celebrating Teej by dancing and singing

Teej: a festival celebrated by Hindu women for the long life of her husband and marital happiness between them until the death; is the most famous festival among women. Also celebrated by unmarried women praying for a perfect husband, Teej is a three-day-long celebration that combines splendid feasts as well as fasting. Women dress in red and beautiful ornaments, visit temples and celebrate by dancing and singing with friends and relatives.

Celebrated on the third day of Bhadra Sukala Paksha (according to Nepal lunar calender), it generally falls in late August or early September. This year, it falls on 16 September 2015.

Teej is also celebrated in many parts of India.

According to the Hindu mythology, on this day, Parvati came to the Shiva's abode, marking the union of the husband and wife. It exemplifies the sacrifice of a wife to win the mind and heart of the husband. According to the myths, Parvati carried out a rigorous fast for 108 years to prove her love and devotion for Shiva, before he accepted her as his wife. Some scriptures say that she was born 107 times before she was reborn as Parvati, and at her 108th birth she was granted the boon to be the wife of Shiva because for her long penance and perseverance over many births. Hence, Teej is celebrated to honor the devotion of Parvati, who is also known as 'Teej Mata,' by those who observe this auspicious day when women seek her blessings for a happy married life and a good husband like Shiva.

Teej also welcomes and celebrates the arrival of monsoon after a season of summer heat.

Women waiting in long lines for their turn to pay homage to Lord Shiva at Pashupatinath Temple

How is it celebrated?

Day one: The first day of Teej is called Dar Khane Din. On this day the women, married and unmarried, assemble at one place in their finest attire and start dancing and singing devotional songs mixed with Nepal folk and Dohori songs. A grand feast takes place called “Dar”. The fun often goes on till midnight, after midnight the 24-hour fasting starts. 

Day two: It is the main day of Teej where on this day the women abstain from eating a single morsel or even a few drops of water. Some women may take liquid or fruits. Both married and unmarried women observe fasting on this day.

Most of devotees in Kathmandu go to Pashupatinath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. At the temple, women worship the Shiva lingam, the symbol of the lord Shiva, offering flowers, sweets and coins. The main puja takes place with offerings of flowers, fruits, etc., made to Shiva and Parvati, pleading them to grant their blessing upon their husband and family.

Though the women fast throughout the day - refusing to take even a drop of water - Teej brings smiles on the faces of women in the cities and villages. 

Day three: The third day of the festival is Rishi Panchami. After the completion of the previous day's puja, women pay homage to seven saints or sages, offer prayers to various deities, and bathe with red mud found on the roots of the sacred datiwan bush, along with its leaves. Only after this puja, women take solid food. 

Hence with lots of joy and enthusiam, Teej is concluded.