Dashain Festival – Greatest Hindu Festival in Nepal

Dashain Festival in Nepal

Dashain, also recognized as Bijaya Dashami, is Nepal's largest, longest, and most auspicious festival. This is Nepal's longest Hindu celebration, generally lasting two weeks. Dashain is a festival dedicated to Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess. Dashain, Nepal's big harvest festival, is a time for family reunions, the exchanging of gifts and blessings, and elaborate pujas.

Dashain celebrates the Goddess Durga, who was created from the shakti or spirit of all the gods and was armed with weaponry from each of them. Dashain is a national holiday celebrating the goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura. During the celebration, all government agencies, educational institutions, and other public sectors will be closed.

Once upon a time, the Goddess Durga, in ten various forms, mounted the tiger and armed herself with magical weapons to battle the monster Mahishasura. Goddess Durga eventually killed the devil and saved the entire land after fighting for nine days and nights. To honor the fearless Durgar, Nepal's ruler refers to her as "the sacred defender." Sacrifices to the Goddess have since become one of the most prominent joyous rituals.

Ghatasthapana (First day of Dashain)

Sthapana means "to establish" and ghata means "pot or vessel." This day occurs on the first day after the no moon day of the Bikram Sambat Calendar's Ashwin month. When two words are combined, the literal meaning is to make a pot.

How is Ghatasthapana Puja performed?

On this day, holy water is poured into the kalasha, which is then mixed with barley seeds and cow manure. Then it was given to the priest, who prayed for the Goddess Durga's blessings. The kalasha will be placed in the chamber following the ritual. The kalasha will be worshipped twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. However, as society has progressed, women now have the right to worship. Kalasha is kept out of direct sunlight and watered well every day. Then the seeds begin to sprout which is called JAMARA. Several days later, five or six-inch-long yellow jamara would grow in the kalasha.

Why is Ghatasthapana celebrated?

Ghatasthapana is an important day on the Nepali calendar. On this day, priests sing in honor of Goddess Durge. The priest asked the goddess to bless Kalash and allow him to repose in the prayer room for ten days.

Steps to make Jamara

• Soak the ( barely, wheat Maize, sesame) seeds for an entire night
• Set up the sand and soil mixture in a container
• Drain the water from the Seeds
• Cover the Jamara seeds with a thin layer of sand in a sand-filled container
• Place the container in a dark room where the sun cannot enter
• Sprinkle water every day
• The Jamara grows about 3 to 5 inches in yellowish color on the tenth day

Fulpati (seventh day of Dashain)

FulPati is divided into two terms. Ful denotes flowers, but Pati denotes leaves and plants. In Nepal, the seventh day of Navaratri Pooja is also celebrated by bringing nine types of Fulpati into the house's pooja chamber.

On this day, a painted chariot transports 9 elements bundled in crimson fabric and a Kalash loaded with sacred water from Gorkha to Hanumandhoka.

Nine ingredients of Fulpati

• The banana plant symbolizes Goddess Brahmani and bestows peace.
• The pomegranate symbolizes Goddess Rakta Dantika, and helps and blesses the worshipper.
• The turmeric plant symbolizes Goddess Durga, the end to obstacles.
• The ginger plant symbolizes Goddess Kalika and blesses mankind.
• The Rice stalk symbolizes Lakshmi, goddess of wealth.
• Wood Apple Tree symbolizes Lord Shiva, the favourite fruit of Lords Vishnu and Shiva.
• Ashok plant symbolizes Goddess Sokarahita. 
• Manavriksha symbolizes Goddess Chamunda and puts end to evil.
• Jayanti symbolizes Godde Kartiki.

What to do in Phulpati?

Navapatrika is designed outside the house and carried in. On the seventh day, it is transported into the pooja ghar. After that, navapatrika Puja is performed. On Ghatasthapana day, the fulpati is kept in Dashain Ghar and venerated with the Jamara planted. On the tenth day, Navapatrika is taken from the pooja ghar, and Bisarjan in the Holy River.

People from different occupations bring their components of trade inside the Dashain Ghar and worship them. Students and teachers perform puja for their books in the form of Goddess Saraswati.

Maha Ashtami (Eighth day of Dashain)

The eighth day is a sacrifice day in Dashain Festival. It is held for Bhadrakali, which is the most horrible manifestation of the Goddess Durga. Goddess Bhadrakali has three eyes and four arms. Her right upper hand is in the pose of allaying fear and her right lower hand holds a trident in it. The left upper hand holds a tambourine and the lower is in the pose of blessing.

Why do Hindus celebrate Durga Ashtami?

Goddess Bhadrakali, the fiery and strong manifestation of Goddess Parvati, was incarnated. She appeared along with the rest of the Yoginis to increase fear in Mahishasur and defeat him. There is no mention of animal sacrifice in Hindu culture or Hindu literature. Killings are always forbidden in the Hindu religion. However, there is a long tradition of sacrificing animals to Kali (Durga Bhawani) during the Dashain festival.

Maha Navami (Ninth day of Dashain)

The phrase Maha Navami refers to the big ninth day. Today is the ninth day of Navratri, the day for particular worship of Mother Siddhidhatri as Goddess Durga's ninth power, as well as her love of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Maa Durga is said to have taken the shape of Mahisasur Mardini on this day to kill Mahishaura, the demon who was ravaging our universe.

Why do people celebrate Navami?

It is thought that by worshipping Siddhidhatri as a power, one can reach perfection and conquer the entire world, with nothing being inaccessible to them. Only on this day of the year, the Taleju Temples in Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur be open to the public. The Nepalese army sacrifices buffalo for official devotion on this day and prays to Durga for her indestructible strength.

Vijayadashami (Dashain day)

The tenth day, commonly known as Vijayadashami, is the most auspicious. On this day, an elder of the family places the jamara and tika (rice grains mixed with scarlet powder) on the forehead. Everyone dresses up and goes for a walk to honor their family's elders.

The crimson Tika is also a sign of blood intertwined with family. Elders distribute Dakshina (money) and blessings to the younger at this time. Families and relatives visit each other's houses for 5 days, till the full moon, to share presents and greetings.

Different types of Jatra and classical dances are organized in locations throughout the Kathmandu valley. For the first nine nights, the tiny passageways surrounding Patan Durbar Square were filled with masked dancers dressed in jewelled costumes. Each one represents one of the eight Mother Earth goddesses known as the Asta Matrika.

Dashain blessing or Dashain Ashirbad Mantras meaning

This Dashain blessing is enchanted generally while putting tika to a female member of the family.

जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी
दुर्गा क्ष्यमा शिवा धात्री  स्वहा स्वधा  नमोस्तु ते

All Auspicious, the remover of Darkness, the good one Beyond Time, the bearer of the Skulls of corrupt mind, she is the conqueror of all.

This blessing is enchanted while putting tika to a male member of the family.

आयुर द्रोण सुते श्रेयम दशरथे , सत्रुक क्षेयम रघवे, (i)
ऐश्र्वर्यम नहुशे , गतिस्च पवने, मानन्च दुर्योधने,    (ii)
सौर्यम शान्त नवे, बलम हलधरे , सत्यस्च कुन्तीसुते,  (iii)
बिज्ञ।न बिदुरे, भवन्तु भबताम, किर्तिस्च नारायणे!   (iv)

May you live as long as Dronacharya's son.
May your reputation flourish as King Dasaratha did.
May you be able to conquer your rivals like a lord (i)

May your material well-being equal that of King Nahush.
May your speed increase. Pawan (Air) 
May everyone admire you as prince Duryodhan did.

May you grow into a formidable worrier like Santanu's son.
May you grow in strength like Balaram (elder brother of Lord Krishna)
May you be just as honest as Kunti's son (Youdhistir) (iii)

May you grow to be as enlightened as Bidhur.
May your greatness grow like Lord Bishnu's (iv)

Why do Hindus celebrate Dashain?

Lord Rama's conquest over Ravana is being remembered

Dashain commemorates Lord Rama's win over Ravana in the great battle that took place in Ravana's kingdom of Lanka. It is also the day Rama and Sita were united after nearly a year apart. Cultural dances and dramas representing the epic history of the Ramayana are popular.

Celebrating the destruction of Mahishasura, the Demon

Asura fought and conquered the semi-gods with the help of Mahishasura, a powerful demon. The half-gods asked Durga for help in killing Mahishasura. Durga Devi, mounted on a lion, battled the mighty demon for nine days before killing him on the tenth. Mother Durga's victory over the Demon Mahishasura glorified Vijaya Dashami.

The worship of the Shami Tree

It is stated that after 14 years of exile, Arjun, one of Pandav's brothers, grabbed his Ayudha (weapons) from the Shami tree and performed puja of the weapons on this day. On the day, people remember that day and perform weapon pooja (worship).

Saraswati Puja

To perform the Saraswati Puja rites, get up early, tidy your house and puja location, and take a bath. This is an important day for Vidhya Arambha, or the ceremony of introducing young children to the world of literature and learning. Saraswati Puja is attended by both young and old people with enormous passion.

Beginning of the harvest season

Dashain also marks the beginning of the harvest season. People desire peace, prosperity, and Mother Earth's blessings in order to reap a rich crop. On Dashain, the semi-gods worship with various offerings and sacrificial (yajnas) ceremonies at the start of each harvest season.

Kojagrat Purnima

In different sections of Nepal and India, Kojagrat Purnima is also known as Kumara Purnima, Kojagiri Purnima, or Kaumudi Purnima. Goddess Lakshmi's birthday is celebrated on this day. People spend the entire night in the moonlight preparing rice kheer, a sweet dessert as prasad.

Activities during the Dashain Festival

Dashain, Nepal's biggest festival, is celebrated by practically every Nepali living anywhere in the globe. Hindus are the most enthusiastic about the celebration. Everyone still celebrates it equally. There are numerous activities that we could engage in during Dashain. The following are the best Dashain activities:

Take to the sky with beautiful kites

Flying kites is one of the coolest and most enjoyable ways to celebrate Dashain. It can only be flown once the monsoon has ended and the westerly winds have begun to blow—exactly when Dashain arrives. Legend has it that flying kites welcome the forces of goodness and piety, which brings you great fortune.

Fun with cards

Families and relatives assemble, form a group, and begin playing cards. Every nook of every neighbourhood has a group of people playing cards. Gambling is illegal in Nepal; however, playing cards for enjoyment among family members is allowed. Everyone, from friends to family members, plays the cards and enjoys every moment of it.

Sway in  Bamboo swings

In Nepal, bamboo swings are built in several parts of the country to honour Dashain. In Nepali, these bamboo swings are known as ping. It is a common kind of entertainment, especially during the Dashain season.

Swinging up in the air with excitement is a popular form of expressing joy. It is widely held that getting your feet off the ground is necessary during Dashain. It is believed that you must leave the ground at least once during Dashain, which led to the practice of swing tradition.

Enjoy festive cuisine

Dashain is the time of year when you can enjoy a lot of tasty cuisine with your family. You not only get to spend quality time with your family and friends, but you also get to consume a lot of food.
Use your vacation responsibly

Most of us have at least seven days off. Make the most of your time. It is not simply possible to spend your vacation eating, sleeping, and chatting. This is an excellent time to get outside and enjoy nature. So, take advantage of this opportunity to start on a journey you've been wanting to do.

Dashain Festival Dates in 2022

Dashain, Nepal's largest celebration, takes place during the month of Kartik (late September and early October). The festival takes place during the brilliant lunar fortnight that ends on the day of the full moon.

Summing Up

Everyone returns to the usual routine after Dashain. People are ready to work and gain virtue, power, and prosperity after gaining the goddess Durga's grace. Dashain is thus not only the longest but also the most cherished of all Nepalese holidays.