Dashain festival begins today in Nepal. It is the longest Hindu festival traditionally celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess.
Dashain falls in late September and early October. Also, the weather during this month is neither hot nor cold. so it is a favorable time to celebrate Nepal’s most auspicious festival.
Dashain is a time for family reunions, exchange of gifts and blessings, and elaborate pujas honoring the Goddess Durga, who was created out of the shakti or energy of all the gods, armed with weapons from each of them.
During Dashain, all the Government and private institutes remain closed for several days. People who are far away from home get to visit their place. The main beauty of this festival is happiness where you get to meet your loved ones.
Goddess Durga, symbolizing valor and prowess, is worshipped and offered sacrifices to ensure the devotees’ progress and prosperity.
During the first ten days, pilgrims flock to various river confluences early in the morning and sacred shrines in the evening.
Ghatasthapana is the first day of the great festival. Ghatasthapana is the invocation of Goddess Shakti and is one of the most important rituals during Navratri marking the beginning of the nine-day festival.
Each and every holds put Kalash in a special room and offered special Pooja on Ghatasthapana. The Kalash represents Shakti or the source of creation or feminine power.The chandi mantra is recited for Goddess Durga Bhawani in the room of Ghatasthapana for 10 days.
According to Hindu mythology, the Dashain festival is a way of acknowledging triumph over an evil spirit. The festival came to light when Goddess Durga won a fight against an evil-spirit demon named “Mahisasur” who spread horror and terror. The Goddess Durga killed this demon in a war that lasted for multiple days.
Seventh day is Phool Pati, eight day is Mahaastami, ninth day is Nawami and tenth day is Vijaya Dashami which has a special value. On the tenth day known as Tika, people are seen moving around with their foreheads covered with rice tika, wearing new clothes. There is much feasting as people visit relatives’ homes to receive tika and blessings.
Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil. For followers of Shaktism, it represents the victory of the goddess Durga. In Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had created terror in the devaloka (the world where gods live) but Durga killed the rakshasa (demon).
During Dashain, men and women in their fineries visit their elders to seek tika (a dab of red vermilion mixed with yogurt and rice) accompanied by blessings.
Sword precessions (Paayaa) are also held in various parts of the Kathmandu Valley. A large number of animals are officially sacrificed at Hanuman Dhoka during Nawami which is attended by officials, invitees and visitors.
During the ninth day, the Taleju Temple which is normally out of bounds is also open to the public.
The last day, known as Kojagrat Purnima, is the full moon. New clothes, home visits, grand feasts, kite flying and village swings are the highlights of Dashain. Around this time the population of Kathmandu is greatly reduced as many head home to various parts of the country.
