Dashain Festival In Nepal
Dashain Festival is the major festival of Nepal. It is also referred to as Durga Puja or Bijaya Dashami. Dashain is very popular in both Nepal and India. It is a fifteen-day-long national festival of Nepal. Dashain Festival in Nepal is the longest and most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese Hindu people worldwide.
Dashain is the longest and most anticipated festival in Nepal. People return from all parts of the world and different parts of the country to celebrate together. During this festival period, all government offices, educational institutions, and other offices remain closed throughout the celebration. Dashain falls in September or October, starting from the bright lunar fortnight of the month of Ashwin or Kartik end ending on the full moon.
The native Newars of the Kathmandu Valley celebrate Dashain, or as they call it, Mwohni or Durga Puja, as the most important Newar festival of the calendar year. It is celebrated by Hindu and Newar people with only slight differences and interpretations, where each of the nine days of NAVARATRI, leading up to the 10th day called ‘Dashami’, carries special importance. The Goddess Durga and her various manifestations are especially worshipped by Hindu Newars throughout the temples of Kathmandu Valley.
Significance of Dashain Festival In Nepal
The Dashain festival symbolizes the victory of God over evil. In Hindu mythology, the demon named “Mahishasura” had created terror in the Devalok (the world where gods live), but eventually the Goddess “Durga” killed the demon. Goddess Durga, symbolizing valor and prowess, is worshiped and offered sacrifices to ensure the devotees’ progress and prosperity.
The first nine days of Dashain talk about the battle that took place between the various manifestations of “Durga” and “Mahishasura”. The tenth day is the day Goddess “Durga” finally defeated and killed him and took a victory over evil. For some Hindus, this festival also symbolizes the victory of God “Ram” over “Ravan” as recounted in the Ramayana. And for the followers of “Shaktism”, it represents the victory of the Goddess “Parbati”.
Important Days of The Dashain Festival
Day 1: Ghatasthapana
Ghatasthapana (sowing Jamara) marks the beginning of Dashain. Literally, it means pacing a kalasha or pot, which symbolizes Goddess Durga. It falls on the first day of the festival. On this day, the kalasha is filled with holy water, which is then covered with cow dung and sewn with barley seeds. Then the kalasha is put in the centre of a rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The priest then starts puja by asking Durga to bless the vessel with her presence. This ritual I performed at a certain auspicious time which is determined by the astrologers.
The Goddess is believed to reside in the vessel during NAVARATRI. The room where all these rituals are performed is called Dashain Ghar. Traditionally, outsiders and women are not allowed to enter the room. A male family member worships the kalasha twice every day, once in the morning and then in the evening.
In recent years, the coming of time has brought about women’s empowerment, and women are equally responsible for performing these rituals. The kalasha is kept away from the direct sunlight, and holy water is offered to it every single day, so that on the tenth day of the festival, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long, yellow grass. This sacred grass is known as Jamara. These rituals will continue until the seventh day.
Day7: Fulpati
Fulpati is a major celebration occurring on the seventh day of Dashain. Traditionally, on this day, the royal kailasha, banana stalks, Jamara, and sugar cane tied with red cloth are brought by Brahmins from Gorkha, a three-day walk, about 169 kilometers away from the capital city, Kathmandu. The Prime Minister of Nepal observes the ceremony in Tundikhel while the Fulpati parade is headed towards the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace. Many Government officials gather together in Tundikhel to witness the event.
Day 8: Maha Asthami
An eighth-day celebration is called the ‘Maha Asthami’. On this auspicious day, buffaloes, goats, hens, and ducks are sacrificed throughout the nation for the purpose of appeasing the blood-thirsty Kali, the fiercest of Goddess Durga’s manifestations. Appropriately enough, the night of this day is called Kal Ratri (Black Night). The old palace in Basantapur Hanuman Dhoka, also known as Dashain Ghar, is active throughout the night with worship and sacrifices in almost every courtyard.
On the midnight of the very day, a total of 54 buffaloes and 54 goats are sacrificed in observance of the rites in Dashain Ghar. After the offering of the blood to Goddess Kali, the meat is taken home and cooked as Prasad or food blessed by divinity. Then, it is offered to household Gods in tiny leaf plates, and after that, it is distributed amongst the family. Eating this food is thought to be auspicious, and while the puja is being carried out, great feasts are held in the house of common people.
Day 9: Maha Navami
The ninth day is called Mahanavami. This is the last day of NAVARATRI. On this day, the state offers the sacrifices of buffaloes under the gunfire salutes. This day is also known as the demon-hunting day because members of the defeated demon army try to save themselves by hiding in the bodies of animals and fowl. On Mahanavami, Vishvakarman, the god of creation, is worshipped as it is believed that all the things which help in making a living should be kept happy.
Artisans, craftsmen, traders, and mechanics worship and offer animal and fowl blood to their tools, equipment, and vehicles. It is believed that worshipping the vehicles on this day avoids accidents for the year as all the vehicles, from bikes, cars to trucks, are worshipped on this auspicious day. The Taleju Temple is open only on this day of the year for the public. The temple is filled with devotees all day long, as thousands of devotees go and pay respect to the goddess on this day.
Day 10: Bijaya Dashami or Vijaya Dashami
The tenth day of the festival is the ‘Dashami’. On this day, a mixture of rice, yoghurt, and vermilion is prepared by the women. This mixture is called Tika. The auspicious time for this proceeding is also determined by the astrologers. With the start of the auspicious time, elders put this tika and Jamara, which is sown on the day of Ghatasthapana, on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with abundance in the upcoming years. The red also symbolizes the blood that ties the family together.
Elders give a small amount of money, commonly known as ‘Dakshina’, to younger relatives at this time, along with the blessings. This continues to be observed for five days till the full moon, during which period families and relatives visit each other to exchange gifts and greetings. This ritual of taking tika from all the elder relatives (even the distant relatives) greatly helps in the renewal of the community ties greatly. This is one reason why the festival is celebrated with so much vigor and enthusiasm. On the auspicious day, the head of the state offers tika to the general public and ministers.
Day 15: Kojagrat Purnima
This is the last day of the Dashain festival. This day is also known as the full moon day. This is the auspicious time; elders put this “Tika” and “Jamara” on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with abundance in the upcoming years. It continues regularly for five days till the full moon day. During this period, families and relatives visit each other to exchange gifts and greetings from near as well as far distances, even from abroad.
Those who cannot attend on main day of “Tika” or “Vijaya Dashami” they used to go to the elder for blessings during these five days. This ritual of taking “Tika” from all the elder relatives (even the distant relatives) greatly helps in the renewal of the community ties. With joy and happiness among people, the 15-day Dashain festival ends.
Can foreign people participate in the Dashain Festival?
Everyone is welcome in the Dashain festival, not only the Nepalese people, but also those who celebrate this. For many years, foreigners have been willing to celebrate this with the Nepalese people. If you would like to be a part of the biggest festival, you should be here in Nepal before Fulpati (5th October this year).
In the season of Dashain, there are other festivals as well, in which you could participate in one visit. Tihar (Festival of Lights) and Mani Rimdu festival are other major festivals in Nepal. Dasain and Tihar are celebrated by all Nepalese, but the Himalayan People mostly celebrate Mani Rimdu.
