Dashain Festival

17th Oct, 2023
By: skylinetreks

Dashain Festival, also known as Vijaya Dashami, is the most significant and widely celebrated Hindu festival in Nepal. It usually falls in September or October and lasts for 15 days, culminating on the day of the full moon (Kojagrat Purnima). The festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is a time for family reunions, feasting, and cultural and religious rituals.

Here's an overview of how Dashain is celebrated:

Cleaning and Decorating Homes:
- Prior to Dashain, families clean and decorate their homes. It's a tradition to thoroughly clean the house to welcome the goddess Durga and invite good luck.
Shopping for New Clothes and Gifts:
- People buy new clothes and gifts for themselves and their family members. It's customary to wear new clothes, especially during the main days of Dashain.
Jamara Planting:
- On the first day of Dashain (Ghatasthapana), a ritual called "Jamara planting" is performed. Barley seeds are sown in a clay pot and grown over the 15-day period. The grown "Jamara" is considered auspicious and is worn on the last day of Dashain.
Offering Sacrifices:
- Animal sacrifice, particularly of male goats, ducks, and buffaloes, is a common practice during Dashain. The sacrifice is believed to appease the goddess Durga and ensure prosperity for the family.
Visiting Elders and Seeking Blessings:
- Younger members of the family visit their elders, seek their blessings, and receive "tika" (a mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermilion) on their foreheads. Elders give blessings and often provide money or gifts to the younger ones.
Family Gatherings and Feasting:
- Dashain is a time for family reunions. Families come together to celebrate and share meals. Special traditional dishes, including "sel roti," "khasi ko masu" (goat meat), and various sweets, are prepared and enjoyed during this time.
Swing Rides (Linge Ping):
- Swings are set up in public places, and people, especially children, enjoy various swing rides. It is a symbol of fun and enjoyment during Dashain.
Cultural Performances:
- Cultural events, including traditional dances, music, and drama, are organized in various communities, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Playing Card Games and Socializing:
- Playing card games like "marriage" Marriage is a matching card game played with three decks of cards in Nepal, and "Faras, Called break" etc... is a common activity during Dashain, bringing friends and families together for fun and entertainment.
Respecting Vehicles and Tools:
- Vehicles, machinery, and tools are worshipped during Dashain to invoke blessings from the goddess for their continued functionality and prosperity.

Dashain is a time for joy, harmony, and bonding with family and loved ones. It holds deep cultural and religious significance, and the festivities foster a sense of unity and tradition among the Nepalese people.