Dashain our festival

    We have many festivals in our country. Dashain is our greatest festival, it is a Hindu festival. It begins in the month of aswin and least for ten day. The first nine days are called Navaratri (Nine night). On these days people worship Durga, the Goddess of power. They worship her image at home or in temples. The first day is call ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing . On this day the kalash, symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side in placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The room where the kalash is established is call 'Dashain ghar'. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called 'jamara'.

As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is call 'Fulpati'. In this day we are worship Durga and another goddess. The eight day called 'Maha Asthami' and ninth day called 'Maha Nawami', the fervour of worship ad sacrifice Durga, and Kali increases . On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Temple of mother goddess are filled with people from down till dusk. Animal mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing . Lastly the tenth day is called 'Vijaya dashami' or Tika. It commemorates the victory of Durga over Mahisasur, the demon. This signifies the triumph of Good over Evill. On this day people go to their superiors and seek blessing . We visit our elders in their home and get 'Tika' from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. During Dashain people spend their time in feasting and merrymaking . They put on fine clothes and eat rich foods. Many people like to eat meat. They kill birds and animals . The rich people have a happy time because they can spend a lot of money. The poor people are not so happy, they can not buy enough clothes and food from their children.

After Dashain everyone settles back to normal . After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga,people are ready to work and acquire virtue,power and wealth . Dashain thus is not only the longest festivals but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.