बडादशैँ – Dashain is the important and special festival celebrated in Nepal. It falls on the month, Ashwin or Kartik according to Nepali calendar and on the month September or October according to English calendar. It is celebrated continuously for 15 days in all over the country. Among those 15 days, first day, seventh day, eighth day, ninth day and tenth day are more important.

It is believed that,  Goddess Durga with ten different manifestations  dressed her in red cloak, rode on tiger and armed herself with different magical weapons and fought with the devil Maisashura. The fight begin continuously for nine days and nine nights. On the 10th day the devil was killed and the whole nation was saved. Since then, Dashain is celebrated as the festival of victory against the devil. People offer animals sacrifice to Goddess  Durga as a main ritual of festival.

 

Dashain also highlights the importance of family union. All the Nepali people living on different part of world come to meet their family and relatives to put tika and get blessings from their seniors. Meeting family, friends, relatives and sharing the greetings, experiences and exchanging the happiness is the important part of the festival.

Day 1: Ghatasthapana.

Ghatasthapana is the starting day of Dashain. On this day people clean the small,dark and separate area of the house using Cow dung, carry some mud and put on the cleaned area, mix the different types of grains there, carry holy water in Kalasha and pour there.This process is continued for 10 days and the seeds sprout and yellow coloured ‘Jamara’ will be ready for putting. The Kalasha and the place is worshipped two times in a day. No one is allowed enter that area except the family members.

Day 7: Phulpati.

Phulpati is on the seventh day of dashain and the grand celebration is done on this day. The Brahmins do 169 Km trekking from Gorkha to Kathmandu, carrying the royal Kalasha, banana stalks, Jamara and the sugarcane stick covered by red clothes.It takes them three days to reach Kathmandu. Many number of people used to gather in Nepali traditional dresses to watch the Phulpati ceremony with King.After kingdom was thrown, President is holding the ceremony.

Day 8: Maha Asthami.

Maha Asthami is the eighth day of Dashain and also known by bloody day. Kali is prayed and the animals are sacrificed on the name of kali on this day.Kali is the most horrible manifestations of Durga.At the midnight of this day people cut off the heads of 8 buffaloes and 108 goats at the quadrangle of durbar square and carry the meat to house as a prashad. Prashad means any food items which is taken as a special as it is carried from the temples.

Day 9: Maha Navami.

Maha Navami is the ninth day of Dashain. On this day people visit Talegu Temple to worship. Talegu temples of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur are opened once in a year on this day. People also sacrifice different animals on this day to pray Durga.  Nepal Army also sacrifice animals and pray to be invincible.

Day 10: Bijaya Dashami or Vijaya Dashami.

Bijaya Dashami is the greatest day of the festival. On this day all members of family gather together put tika, exchange the cards, greetings and visit to their relatives houses to put tika and get blessings from them. During night we get chance to see the magnificent processing and masked dances in Kathmandu.

Day 15: Kojagrata Purnima.

This is the last day of Dashain.On this day people put the remaining Tika and Jamara on the holy river and end the festival. It is also believed that goddess of wealth, Durga will visit to earth on the midnight of this day and give blessings to the people who are not sleeping. So, it is excuse for people to involve in Gambling on this night.

Forms of celebration

Buying new clothes.

Almost every people buy new clothes to wear on the day of Bijaya Dashami. It is the interesting part of the festival. Every clothes store in the country provide festive offers and discounts on buying clothes during the festival.

Playing cards.

Playing card is another interesting part of celebrating the festival. All the members of the family gather and play cards with the motto of sharing the life experience, eating together and cracking jokes.

Flying Kites.

People of every ages fly kites during this festival. They believe that flying kite is the best way to remind god not to rain anymore so that they can celebrate the festival happily in the sunny day. People also organize the program like, ‘Changa Chet’ which means making the battle of kites in the sky.

Playing Swings and ferris wheels.

It is believed that we should leave the ground for few moment on the day of Bijaya Dasami after putting Tika. So, People play swing and rotate on ferris wheels for lifting themselves from ground. Besides, it is also taken for entertainment purpose.

Exchanging the Cards and Greetings.

People meet their all families, relatives and friend during the time of Dashain and exchange the cards and greetings with each other to make the moment memorable.