Dashain Festival

DASHAIN FESTIVAL OF NEPAL

Being home to 125 different castes, ethnic groups and many other religions, Nepal has been known as a secular country since 2007. Not only holding the title of a mountainous country but it is equally rich in its culture and tradition, Nepal is a small but diversified country. Dashain is a widely celebrated Hindu festival in Nepal. It is the most anticipated festival in NEPAL.

Dashain, also called as Bijaya Dashami,  is mainly celebrated by Hindus, Buddhisst, Kirats. Dashain holds a sacred place in Nepalese hearts. There used to be a time when eating rice used to be a great thing in Nepal. At that time, most of the people were indulged in agriculture as source of income and those farmers used to save money for the auspicious occasion of Dashain, so that they could  be able to afford rice and meat once in a year. It is usually celebrated in the month of Ashwin according to days mentioned in Parto. Nepalese from all over the world, go back to Nepal and make sure that they celebrate it with their family and loved ones. All the educational institutions, government offices are closed during this festival.

Dashain not only brings people and family together but also holds an old mythological value. This festival is basically the celebration of victory of good over evil. There is a widely believed story that, an evil demon called Mahisasur created terror amongst the God in Devlok (place where all the gods live). No any powerful God could defeat him but goddess Durga  killed that demon. This festival is usually celebrated for Ten days. The first nine days, people celebrate it by going to temple and worshipping the nine other forms of goddess Durga and on the tenth day, juniors put tika on their head from their elders and take their blessings.

Ghatasthapana

The first day of dashain is called Ghatasthapana. Ghata means Pot or Vessel and Sthapana means to establish in Nepali. On this day, a kalash (pot) is filled with holy water and some barley seeds are put on it. Now the pot is kept on a rectangular box filled with sand from the river. Barley seeds are kept in the box as well. One of the member of the family or Pandit/priest starts doing the puja and urges goddess Durga to bless the vessel and the pot. The place where this puja is done is called Dashain ghar and only one family member is allowed to enter there. That one family member always goes to that room in the moring and evening and worships goddess Durga. These barley seeds are expected to grow as a long yellowish colored grass like herb later to be used as “ Jamara”.

Fulpati

On the seventh day, fulpati is celebrated. On this day, banana stalks, jamara and sugarcane tied with a red holy cloth is carried by the youngest of the house and follows the main or head of the house up to the dashain ghar. Special event is organized in tudhikhel on that day. The royal kalash, jamara, sugarcan and banana stalks are brought from gorkha to hanuman dhoka palace.

Maha Asthami

On the eighth day, Maha Asthami is celebrated. All the sharpened weapons including khukuri, knife are kept in Dashain ghar. Animals like buffaloes, goat and hen are sacrificed on this day to worship the most fierce form of goddess Durga that is Kaali. Blood of these animals are believed to be pure, the meat is cooked and called as Prasad. These Prasad is now offered to the goddess in a tiny leaflet and celebrated among the family members.

Nawami

On the nineth day, called as Nawami, all the rituals come to its peak. Lord of creation, Vishwakarma is worshipped. Craftmens and mechanics offer blood to their equipment so that it will avoid any sort of accidents from bikes and cars happening on that year.

Vijaya Dashami

And finally, the main day. Vijaya Dashami arrives where tika is prepared from raw rice, curd mixed together. A special time is allocated by astrologers to put the tika. On that time elders put tika on forehead of their juniors and put jamara on their forehead .

One of my favourite thing about dashain is Malshree dhun. A soft and surreal tune which indicates the arrival of dashain. Other than the tune, shopping is the great part of this festival. People tend to buy new clothes for this festival. Market are crowded with people trying to shop new clothes .