There are hundreds of festivals which are celebrated throughout the year in Nepal. Being a multi-religious country, Nepal celebrates every festival with a great deal of celebration. In Nepal, Hinduism is the main religion, followed by Buddhism. Christianity, Sikhism, Kiranti are some of the other religion. Festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Christmas, Udhauli and Ubhauli which belongs to the different ethnicity of a different religion are celebrated in Nepal.
And, among hundreds of that festival, Dashain is the greatest among all and the longest too. Although Dashain is a festival for Hindus, it is celebrated by all the religious group of Nepal in their way.
About Dashain
Dashain, also known as Bada Dashain or Bijaya Dasami is the longest festival of Nepal. Dashain is celebrated for fifteen days with different prayers and offering to the gods. Dashain is also the great harvest festival when the family reunites, celebrates with delicious foods and drinks, exchange gifts and blessings and worships the god together. During the time of Dashain, people from different parts of the world, as well from around the country return to their home to be with the family and celebrate the festival together. In Dashain, all the offices including government as well as private, educational institution, companies and other offices get closed.
Dashain usually falls during September of October, starting from the Shukla Paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month Ashwin and ending on Purnima, the full moon day. Of all the fifteen days of the festival, first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and the fifteenth day is the most important one.
However, the Hindus and Buddhist Newars of Kathmandu valley celebrate Dashain with sight differences and interpretations. Every nine days which leads to the day of “Dashami” carries very special importance. Goddess Durga and various other manifestation of her are worshipped especially by Hindu Newar throughout the Shaktipeeths (shrines) of Kathmandu valley. Also, among the Newar community of Kathmandu Mwohni is important during the Dashami. While in Mwohni, family members gather together and have a special dinner called Nakhtya and various community procession of deities called Jatra are carried throughout the three royal cities of Kathmandu valley.
Why is Dashain celebrated?
According to the Hindu mythology, a demon named Mahisahusur created a terror in Devlok (the world where God lives). Goddess Durga killed all of Mahisahusur demon army. The nine-day of Dashain symbolises the battle that took place between the different manifestations of Goddess Durga and Mahishasur. Then finally in the tenth day, Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahishasur.
As per the Ramayan, in this day Lord Ram (manifestation of Vishu) got victory over Ravan, who abducted Ram’s wife, Sita. No matter there are different belief regarding the celebration of Dashain, it symbolises one thing that good always wins over evil and bad.
Also as per the Nepalese Buddhist, Dashain is celebrated to honour the adoption of Ahimsa and Buddhism by the great Indian emperor, Ashoka.
Dashain in other parts of the world
Dashain is recognised as the Nepali festival all over the world. However, the festival is practised in the other part of the world as well. Dashain is celebrated in some parts of India as “Dashara”. Also, it is celebrated by the Nepali people of Indian hill states of Sikkim, Assam and Darjeeling. The festival is celebrated by Lhotshampa group of Bhutan and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar as well.
How is Dashain celebrated?
Dashain is a very joyous festival of Nepal. It was the day when the parted members of the family met and celebrate. Dashain is a festival of fun with friends and family that goes for 15 days. But as they Dashain approaches, the environment becomes festive as well. In Nepal, Dashin is celebrated by following acts:
New Clothes
New clothes are the best thing about Dashain. Adults might not enjoy this custom, but for kids, it is the best part. During Dashain, people buy new clothes for all the members of the family. In Dashain, even people living in poverty buy news clothes. All kinds of shops on the street to the big mall are packed with people doing shopping.
Flying Kites
As Dashain approaches, you can see the colourful kites flying. People gather on the rooftop of their house with family and friends do kites riding completion. This practice is also an important part as it is a way of reminding god not to send any more.
Playing Cards
Another fun thing about Dashain is playing cards. Adults play the cards for passing their time together and for money as well. However, the main jest is to spend the time with each other and having fun.
Bamboo swings
Bamboo swings are constructed as a part of the celebration in Nepal. And as Dashain is the biggest celebration of all, bamboo swings are constructed in all parts of the country. Kids, as well as adults, enjoy having fun in bamboo swings. Bamboo swings made following by traditional methods using bamboo and ropes by the joint effort of community members, so that’s why this custom presents not just fun, but local culture, tradition and community spirit as well. Swings are constructed usually in Ghatasthapana and dismantled only after Tihar.
Fairs
In many parts of Nepal, small fairs are organised during the time of Dashain with Ferris wheels for kids and other entertainment for adults. While in city areas, big commercial fairs are held.
Putting Tika and getting blessing and gifts
In Dashain, people go to the houses of their relatives with gifts to put tika in their forehead and get a blessing. Elders put tika and jamara to the younger ones and bless them with good health and success in their life.
What are the different days of Dashain?
As mentioned above, Dashain is a 15-day long festival. However some of them are very important days, let us know the days and their essence:
First Day: Ghatasthapana
The day of Ghatasthapana marks the beginning of Dashain. In this very day, Jamara is sown. This is not an easy ritual. In this day, Kalash is filled with holy water which is then covered by cow dung and is sewn with barley seeds. Afterwards, Kalash is put in the centre of a rectangular sand block, and the remaining bed of sand is also seeded with grains. It is a very important and auspicious ritual. No one is allowed to enter the room where all this is performed. The Kalash is worshipped two times a day keeping away from direct sunlight and offering holy water. And, by the tenth day, the seed will be grown up to five or six inches long grass, which is known as jamara.
Seventh Day: Phulpati
The seventh day of Dashain is a major celebration. In this day, the royal Kalash, banana stalk, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is brought from Gorkha by Brahmins to Kathmandu. The Phulpati brought by Brahmins is taken to Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace by the time the occasion ends in Tundikhel, where a parade is held. In the Tundikhel ground of Kathmandu, hundreds of government officials come together in a conventional formal dress to witness the event. Before, the king used to observe the festival, but not the President has taken over the king’s social and religious roles.
Eighth Day: Maha Asthami
The eighth day of Dashain is Maha Asthami when the fiercest manifestation of Goddess Durga, Kali is appeased with sacrifices of animals. The offered animals are taken home and cooked as Prasad. It is believed that eating that food is an auspicious act.
Also, on this day Newar community practices “Khadga Puja” where they worship their weapons.
Ninth Day: Maha Navami
Maha Navami is the ninth day of Dashain and also the last day of Navaratri. In this day, many rituals and ceremonies are practised. In this day, official military ritual sacrifices are held in one of the Hanuman Dhoka royal palaces and the state also offers the sacrifices of buffalos under gunfire salutes.
Also, in this day, Vishvakarma, the god of creation is worshipped with the belief that all the things which help in making a living should be kept happy.
Tenth Day: Vijaya Dashami
The tenth day of Dashin is Vijaya Dashami, and it’s the most important day of all. In the day, tika is prepared by the mixture of rice, yoghurt and vermilion. Elders put tika in the forehead of younger ones along with the jamara and bless them with happiness and success in their life. The red colour in tika also symbolises the blood that ties the family. After putting the tika and jamara, elders also give Dakshina (money) to younger ones along with the blessings.
This practice continues for five days till the full moon day as people have to travel a long distance to reach the relatives. People travel a great distance to put tika from elder ones which help in the renewal of the community ties.
Fifteen Day: Kojagrata Purnima
It is the last day of the Dashain. The meaning of Kojagrata is “who is awake”. It is believed that Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth descends on earth and showers whoever is awake all night with wealth and prosperity and because of this belief, people stay wake by playing cards and doing fun.
When is Dashain in 2018?
This year Dashain starts from Aswin 24th (October 10) as Ghatasthapana. The main day of Bijaya Dasami is celebrated in Kartik 2nd (October 19), and the festival finally ends with Kojagrata Purnima in Kartik 7th (October 24th).