Dashain
is the
religious festival of Nepal. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival
in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese Hindu of all casts
throughout the globe. The festival falls around September–October, starting
from the bright lunar fortnight and ending on the day of full moon. Dashain is also popularly referred to
as Bada Dashain. Throughout the country the
goddess Durga in all her manifestations is worshiped with
innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices,
for the ritual of holy bathing, drenching the goddess for days in blood. This
festival is also known for its emphasis on the family gatherings, as well as on
a renewal of community ties. People return from all parts of the world, as well
as from different parts of the country, to celebrate together. All government
offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the
festival period.
Introduction
Dashain
commemorates the victories of the god and goddesses over the demons. It
symbolizes the victory of the good over the evil. Mahisashur, a demon, had
created terror in the dev-lok (the world of gods). All the gods and
saints prayed to the Aadi-Shakti in order to kill Mahisashur,
Goddess came as Durga emerged and killed the demon thus saving
everyone from terror.
The first
nine days of Dashain symbolizes the battle which took place between the
different manifestations of goddess Durga and the
demon Mahisashur. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally
defeated Mahisashur. Goddess Durga is worshipped throughout the
country as divine mother goddess.
Throughout
the festival people pay homage to the various forms of the Supreme
Goddess, Durga. The followers of Shakta cult take it as the day of falling
of demon Mahisashur by goddess Durga. For non-Shakta Hindus,
this festival symbolizes the victory of Ram over Ravan, the
characters of the epic Ramayana. The Buddhists remember this day as
Emperor Ashoka of the Indian subcontinent abandoned violence on this
day and entered the path of Buddhism.
In the
Kathmandu Valley, among the Newars, the festival is known as
"Mohanee", with slight difference in rituals and significance, thus
more than often confused with the Dashain.
Important
Days on Dashain
Day 1: Ghatasthapana
Ghatasthapana marks
the beginning of Dashain. It literally means installing a pot which
symbolizes Goddess Shakti. It falls on Aswin Shukla Pratipada, the
first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Aswin. On
this day the kalash is filled with holy water which is then covered
with cow dung and sown with barley seeds. Then, the kalash is put in
the center of a rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also sown
with grains. The priest then starts the puja by calling goddess Durga
to bless the vessel with her presence. This ritual is performed at a certain
auspicious time which is determined by the astrologers.
Goddess Shakti is believed to reside in the kalash vessel
during the Navratri period.
The room
where all this is done is known as the ‘Dashain Ghar’. Generally,
outsiders and women are not allowed to enter the Dashain Ghar. A male family member worships the
Kalasha twice every day, once in the morning and then in the evening. It is
kept away from direct sunlight, and holy water is offered to it every day, so
that by the tenth day of the festival the seed will have grown to five or six
inches long yellow grass. This sacred grass is known as ‘Jamara’. These rituals
continue till the seventh day.
Day 7: Fulpati
Fulpati is
a major celebration occurring on the seventh day of Dashain. On this day the jamara to be used by
the royal family is brought from Gorkha palace, their ancestral house.
The Fulpati (jamara and the other items that is necessary for tika)
is brought after a three day walk from Gorkha palace which is about hundred and
sixty nine kilometers away from the valley of Kathmandu. A parade is held in
the Tundikhel ground in Kathmandu.
The royal
Kalasha, banana stalks, jamara and the sugar cane tied with red cloth is brought
by the Brahmans from Gorkha which is led by the royal priest's military
platoon. Hundreds of government officials gather together in the Tundikhel
grounds in conventional formal dress to witness the event. The king observes
the ceremony in Tundikhel while the fulpati parade is headed towards
the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace. Then there is a majestic display of
the Nepalese Army along with a celebratory firing of weapons that continues for
ten to fifteen minutes honoring Fulpati. The Fulpati is taken to the Hanuman
Dhoka Royal palace by the time the occasion ends in Tundikhel. However,
post-monarchy, the President and the Prime Minister has taken over the king’s
social and religious roles.
Day 8: Maha Ashtami
The eighth
day is called the 'Maha Asthami'. This is the day when the most demonic of
Goddess Durga’s manifestations, the blood-thirsty Kali, is appeased
through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of buffaloes, goats, pigeons and
ducks in temples throughout the nation. Blood, symbolic for its fertility, is
offered to the Goddesses. Appropriately enough, the night of this day is
called Kal Ratri (Black Night). It is also the norm for buffaloes to
be sacrificed in the courtyards of all the land revenue offices in the country
on this day. The old palace in Basantapur Hanuman Dhoka, is active
throughout the night with worships and sacrifices in almost every courtyard. On
the midnight of the very day the Dashain Ghar, a total of 54
buffaloes and 54 goats are sacrificed in observance of the rites. After the
offering of the blood, the meat is taken home and cooked as "prasad",
or food blessed by divinity. This food is offered, in tiny leaf plates, to the
household Gods, then distributed amongst the family. Eating this food is
thought to be auspicious. While the puja is being carried out great
feasts are held in the homes of common people.
The Newar
community celebrates “Kuchhi Bhway” in the evening.
Day 9: Maha Nawami
The ninth day
is called Maha-navami which literally means the great ninth day. This
day is the last day of Navarati. Ceremonies and rituals reach the peak on
this day. On this day, official military ritual killings are held in one of
the Hanuman Dhoka royal palace called the Kot courtyard. On
this occasion, the state offers the sacrifices of buffaloes under the gunfire
salutes. This day is also known as the demon-hunting day because members of the
defeated demon army try to save themselves by hiding in the bodies of animals
and fowls.
On this day
the Vishwakarma, the god of creativeness is also worshiped as it is
believed that all the things which help in making a living should be kept
happy. Artisans, craftsmen, traders, and mechanics worship and offer animal and
fowl blood to their tools, equipment, and vehicles. Moreover, since it is
believed that worshipping the vehicles on this day avoids accidents for the
year all the vehicles from bikes, cars to trucks are worshiped on this day.
The Taleju Temple
gates are opened for the general public on only this day of the year. Thousands
of devotees go and pay respect to the goddess this day. The temple is filled
with devotees all day long.
Day 10: Dashami
The tenth day
of the festival is the 'Dashami'. On this day, a mixture of rice, yoghurt
and vermillon is prepared. This preparation is known as "tika".
Elders put this tika and jamara which is sown in
the Ghatasthapana on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them
with abundance in the upcoming years. The red also symbolizes the blood that
ties the family together. Elders give "Dakshina", or a small amount
of money, to younger relatives at this time along with the blessings. This
continues to be observed for five days till the full moon during which period
families and relatives visit each other to exchange gifts and greetings. This
ritual of taking tika from all the elder relatives (even the distant
relatives) helps in the renewal of the community ties greatly. This is one
reason why the festival is celebrated with so much of vigour and enthusiasm.
Next day all students who gave money they came to school and played basketball sometime. There were 5 teachers were confirm to go with us they were: Khem sir, Bijaya sir, Deepak sir, Rajan sir, and Aarati ma'am. Then we ate our tiffin in the way while going dhading. In bus we sang songs and played others games. Some of the students slept and some were playing with us. After long time we reached at Dhading Kurintar. There were many camps for sleeping. We put our bags in the camp. In 1 camp there were 3 students. We became fresh and went for our lunch. We ate chowmen in lunch and Deepak Sir and other students clicked photos of other while eating. There were 3 tents for teachers and 1 tent for brother. We clicked group photo. After that we went to one small hill. While going there was one bridge which was long. We clicked photos on bridge. 
In the way we also saw the garden full of cabbage. In the way there was also some small trees where all the boys started climbing and clicking photos. I was in the first leading our group and then while returning from the top of the hill we saw that Deepak sir group had took the wrong way and were returning from the wrong way. Then till they return from the top we wait for them. And we saw them returning back to us then deepak sir took us to an empty ground where we played race and some of them did a lot of cheatings. And we return to camp at evening. After returning we went to our camp charged our phone. We started dancing. Then we ate our dinner at 7.00 pm then again we started dancing, playing.
While dancing bijay sir and khem sir also joined us. We ate chicken there. While eating deepak sir told that near riverside there ghost comes and scares people. Then at 11:50 pm we went to river side we had a lot fun there as well as deepak sir tried a lot to scare us but none of us became scare and after returning we went to sleep then my tent member Samip and Aayush woke up early in morning and I didn't slept at night. Then boys played push up competition in which Basanta won then girls played race competition in which furwa won. And then we ate our breakfast then we went for hike in the hill with our guide Sagar. There sagar was on lead then while hiking also we clicked many photos. There was three baby of goat. Then while returning we played in water there also. There was a small narrow bridge we crossed it one by one. After returning to camp we ran towards river side and had a lot of fun we played there for an hour then we had played many competition. Unfortunately I couln't won atleast 1 competition also. We also buried Sushant in the sand, We played volleyball near river. We played the pebbles as well.
Then after having meal we returned to our home. We left the tent at 2:50 pm. While going there was traffic jam and we reached home at 7:00 pm. At last I want to say that I happily enjoyed our tour and hope next year we will do better than this tour. @@THANK YOU@@
