Dashain in Nepal 2024 - Traditions & Important Days

Dashain, also known as "Bada Dashain" or "Vijaya Dashami," is one of Nepal's most significant and widely celebrated Hindu festivals. It's a grand festival that extends over 15 days and holds immense religious, cultural, and social significance for the Nepalese people. Dashain is dedicated to Goddess Durga, the symbol of divine energy and the destroyer of evil. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, symbolizing the triumph of truth over falsehood. Each day of Dashain holds religious significance, with specific rituals and customs observed to honor different manifestations of Goddess Durga, including Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Mahasaraswati.

Dashain is a time for family gatherings, reunions, and feasts. People travel long distances to be with their families, sharing meals, exchanging gifts, and enjoying traditional festivities. Kite flying is a popular activity during Dashain, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and fostering a spirit of joy and camaraderie among communities.

Dashain Dates 2024

Dashain, following the lunar calendar, usually falls in September or October. It begins on the day of Ghatasthapana and concludes on the day of Kojagrat Purnima, spanning 15 days of festivities.

Dashain 2024 - Thursday, Oct 3, 2024 - Saturday, Oct 12, 2024

Traditions

Dashain Jamara — **Preparations for Dashain**
Source

The festivities of Dashain in Nepal begin with Shukla Paksha (bright lunar fortnight) and ends with the full moon day between the months of September and October. During this time, devotees cleanse their homes and decorate them vibrantly. The popular belief behind this practice is that the Goddess would visit and bless their homes. Families unite, markets fill with shoppers purchasing gifts, clothes to celebrate the Dashain Festival.

Animals such as goats, sheep, buffalos, chicken, ducks are prepared for slaughter as an offering to the deity. Most business organisations and firms remain shut for the duration of the festival. The entire country gathers to celebrate with their family and friends the festival of Dashain in Nepal.

How is Dashain Celebrated?

Kite flying is the most popular sport in every household during the Dashain Festival. The belief behind this practice is that kite flying would remind God to send more rain. The older family members indulge in playing cards and gambling. Buying and wearing all new clothes is an essential part of Dashain. Unique bamboo swings manufactured in the traditional manner using bamboo sticks, wood and ropes are set up during this time. These handicrafts; some of which are as tall as twenty feet are prepared a week before Ghatasthapana (translated to "establishing pots or vessels)

Days of the Celebration

The main celebration of Dashain spans for ten days, the most important of them being the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth day. The former nine days are observed as Navratri, of which, the eighth day is dedicated as Maha Ashtami.
The tenth day is the most important of all; where the various avatars of goddess Shakti are worshipped throughout Nepal.

Highlighted Days of Dashain Festival

Ghatasthapana (Day 1)

The Ghatasthapana, a day of setting up the Kalash (pot) filled with Ganga jal (holy water) and covered with barley seeds and cow dung, marks the beginning of Dashain in Nepal. The pot symbolizing Maa Durga is placed over a rectangular sand block filled with mixed sand and barley seeds. The priest further begins worship with chanting that signifies asking Maa Durga to come and reside in the vessel. It is believed that Maa Durga stays within the Kalash for the upcoming nine days, and hence, every day it is filled with holy water and kept away from sunlight so that the barley seeds can grow up to 15 cm long at least. This sacred grass is then known as Jamara.

Phulpati (Day 7)

Traditionally, the seventh-day ritual consists of the Kalash, Jamara, Banana Stalks and Sugarcane tied together with a red cloth. The Gorkha Brahmins then bring this bundle from Kathmandu to the king’s palace, Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace through a three-day walk. A Phulpati parade ceremony with beautiful displays by the Nepal Army used to be held where there would be celebratory firings honouring the Phulpati. However, this practice does not exist anymore as the President now sits in place of the king, and the Phulpati offering reaches the house of the President.

Maha Ashtami (Day 8 )

Dashain Goat For Sacrificing — Preparations before the ritualistic animal sacrifice
Source

On this day, Maa Durga’s fiercest manifestation, Kali, is pleased with animal sacrifices throughout Nepal. The night of Maha Ashtami is also known as Kaal Ratri (dark night) as a mark of the ceremonial practice of slaughtering 54 goats and 54 buffaloes as the clock strikes midnight. After offering the blood of these animals, the meat is taken and cooked in homes of devotees as a ‘ Rasad’ (food blessed by the divine). It is further offered in small leaf plates to all the household gods and goddesses and then shared amongst all the family members. This food is considered to be auspicious, and all celebrators are expected to indulge in it.

Maha Navami (Day 9)

Maha Navami is the last day of the Navratri, during which rituals and ceremonies reach their zenith. Official military at the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palaces perform ritualistic sacrifices of killing buffaloes at the Kot courtyard. This demon-hunting day traditionally signifies the myth of Maa Durga finding and destroying the demon (Mahishasura) who is said to have hidden within animal bodies. The God of creation, Vishvakarma, is also worshipped on this day. Natives believe that worshipping cars and other vehicles on this day will avoid accidents for the coming year. The gates of the Taleju Temple are opened to the public only on the day of Maha Navami. Hence, hundreds of devotees visit to pay their respects to the goddess throughout the day.

Vijaya Dashami (Day 10)

**Tika being applied on a young devotee**
Source

On this day, women devotees prepare the Tika (mix of yogurt, rice, and vermilion) that is further applied to the foreheads of younger family members with the Jamara as they seek elderly blessings. This big red Tika symbolises the blood that unites a family.

Kojagrata Purnima (Day 15)

It is the night of the full moon and the last day of Dashain. On this evening, Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of fortune and wealth, is worshipped. Wide belief holds that she descends upon the Earth on this night and showers devoted families who keep awake all night with wealth and prosperity.

Mythology Behind Dashain in Nepal

According to Hindu mythology, Mahishasura, the demon, was creating a ruckus and causing terror in the land of the Gods (Devaloke). It was then that Maa Durga killed him and saved the world from him. The first nine days of the festival symbolise this nine-day battle which took place between the various avatars of Maa Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day signifies the victory of good over evil when Maa Durga killed the demon and gained triumphs over him. According to Hindu beliefs of the Ramayana, Dashain is also about the victory of Ram over Ravana.

Traveller Tips

Dashain, Nepal — A devotee lighting lamps during Navratri
Source

Dashain Festival is most pompous in Nepal; hence, if you wish to be a part of the local Dashain celebrations, you need to plan for the trip priorly.

Generally, the service industry is closed during Dashain in Nepal; hence, if you fail to book your stay and tickets prior, it would be almost impossible to visit the Dashain Festival.

The costs are exceptionally high between the seventh and tenth day of the Dashain Festival.

Dashain in Nepal is a festival of love, homecoming, positivity, and pomp. The celebrations end on an optimistic note among the locals that henceforth positively improve their lives. Devotees believe in having been abundantly blessed by the Goddess Durga and thus consider the next year to be a smooth, happy, and prosperous one.