Dashain

When is Dashain

This year Dashain festivals is from October 5 to 18, 2013. The tenth day of Dashain – Vijaya Dashami, the tika day is on October 14, 2013. In Bikram Sambat date, Dashain starts Ashwin 19, 2070 and runs till Kartik 1, 2070. The main day: Dashain Tika day of 2070 is on Monday, Ashwin 28, 2070.

How do we celebrate Dashain / What do we do in Dashain

Dashain has its own stories, importance and significance. It is regarded as victory of truth over the evil. Dashain is celebration of victory of good over bad. Dashain reminds us every year that the evil may be strong for a time; the truth and good will always prevail over it. Every year we all Nepali, remember the message “Good always wins over the evil”, with the celebration of the great festival of Bada Dashain.

सर्व मंगल मांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके । शरन्ये त्रयम्बिके गौरी नारायणी नमोस्तुते ।।
शरणागत दीनार्तपरित्राण परायणे। सर्वस्यातिहरे देवि नारायण नमोस्तुते।।
सर्वस्वरूपे सर्वेशे सर्वेशक्तिसमन्विते । भयेभ्यस्त्राहि नो देवि दुर्गे देवि नमोऽस्तु ते ।।
रोगनशेषानपहंसि तुष्टा। रुष्टा तु कामान् सकलानभीष्टान्।।
त्वामाश्रितानां न विपन्नराणां। त्वमाश्रिता हृयश्रयतां प्रयान्ति।।
सर्वाबाधा प्रशमनं त्रैलोक्यस्याखिलेश्वरि। एवमेव त्वया कार्यमस्मद्दैरिविनाशनम्।।
सर्वाबाधा विर्निर्मुक्तो धनधान्यसुतान्वित:। मनुष्यो मत्प्रसादेन भविष्यति न संशय:।।
जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी । दुर्गा शिवा क्षमा धात्री स्वाहा स्वधा नमोऽस्तु ते ।।
देहि सौभाग्यमारोग्यं देहि देवि परं सुखम् ।
रूपं देहि जयं देहि यशो देहि द्विषो जहि ॥

Dashain is just after the season of harvest. All the farmers are happy and most households are filled with rice and gains. The season is called Sarad Ritu, which is the most pleasant time in the year. The season itself is a celebration. People have lots of rice in home this time of year. Therefore people in some places have culture of putting tika of rice on the forehead. Some mix it with abir and make it red. Some do it white only with curd.

The rice and curd is used because, people have those things this season. To make it colorful, they mixed it with abir. That became tika. Nepali people, wherever they live, they try to reach home to see their family in Dashain. Take blessings from their elders and enjoy being with family forgetting all the trouble and worries. That is why it is also called D ashahara, it is simply mean “take away ill fortune” (dasha=ill, furtune, hara=take away).

Kite in Dashain
There is a tradition of getting new cloths and having big feast in this festival. Family gathering is the most loved part of this festival. Swings made up of bamboo and coconut rope is swinging all across the nation. There is a tradition to swing at least once in this festival. People say if you leave the ground swinging in Dashain, the swing will take away ill feelings and replace it with new and rejuvenation inside oneself. Kit flying is another attraction for youth.

People all across the country worship Durga Bhawani and visit temples. It is called Nauratha visits. People wake up early in the morning and go to temples of Devi Durga. People perform musical programs and Ramlila in Madhesh and Terai region of Nepal. Nepal has its own music which symbolizes Dashain. The music is called Mal Shree Dhun.

On the tenth day, people put Prasad of victory. In hilly reasons people put tika from the hands of elders on their foreheads. In some places people make a dummy of Raman and burn it in tenth day with performance of Ram Lila. Celebration differs according to geographic structure but all celebrate the same festival with same zeal and enthusiasm. Dashain is the longest holiday in Nepal. Nepal Government closes about 7 days during this festival.

This festival is known for emphasis on family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate this festival together.

What are the days in Dashain called

Dashain has 15 days celebration, however, following days are regarded as main days amogst them,

1st day Ghatasthapana (Pratipada)
7th day Fulpati (Saptami)
8th day Asthami
9th day Navami
10th Vijaya Dashami (main Dashain Day) – Dashain ko Tika
11th Akadasi
15th Kojagrat Purnima

The first day of this festival starts from Ghatasthapana. The “Dashain Ghar”, or special worship room, is set up, to start pooja of Durga Bhawani. This room is used to plant barley called Jamara in Nepali and to worship the Astha-Matrikas (the 8 tantrik Goddesses) as well as the Nava Durgas (the 9 Goddess Durga) for remaining 9 days. (All these 9 days have their own importance in Dashain celebration). Barley is sowed in sand brought from river, and the barley is called Jamara when it is grown. These seeds will sprout in ten days. The sprouts, which symbolize a good harvest, will be decoratively placed on the heads of family members later on in the festival as a blessing.

What are the stories behind Dashain celebration

There are so many stories behind Dashain celebration. Whatever the stories are, Dashain is celebrated as the victory of Good over evil.

Victory of Ram Chandra over Ravan (Rawana)

King Ram Chandra, whose wife Sita was kidnapped by King Rawan, with the help of hanuman and its military, conquered Rawan on the tenth day, after regular worship of Durga Bhawani for 9 days. The 10th day is the victory day. Therefore, we worship Durga Bhawani for 9 days and 10th day, make dummy of Ramwan and burn it symbolizing the end of evil. We put tika on our forehead as prasad of victory.

Victory of Durga Mata over Mahishasur

Demons, or Asuras, became very powerful and ambitious and continually tried to defeat the Devas, or Gods, and capture Heaven. One Asura, Mahishasur, in the form of a bull, grew very powerful and created havoc on the earth. Asuras started defeating the Devas and chasing them away from the havean. The world was crushed under Mahishasura’s cruelty; the Devas put their energy together and form a Shakti, a single mass of incandescent energy, to kill Mahishasur.

A very powerful band of lightning emerged from the mouths of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and a young, beautiful female virgin with ten hands appeared. All the Gods gave their powers and special weapons to her. This Shakti blended to form the goddess Durga. With her vehicle riding on a lion, Durga Bhawanu, fought Mahishasur. The battle raged for nine days and nights. Finally on the tenth day of Ashvin shukla paksha, Mahishasur was defeated and killed by Durga. This is the day of celebration.

What is Dashain Asirbad Sloka or Dashain Ashirbad Mantras

There are many Ashirbad and slokas of Dashain, however the mostly used slokas / mantra of Dashian Asirbad in Nepal during putting Tika are below.

This Dashian mantra enchanted generally while putting tika to female member of family.

Om Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadra Kali Kapalini
Durga Kshyama shiva dhatri swaha swadha namostu te

ॐ जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी ।
दुर्गा क्ष्यमा शिवा धात्री स्वहा स्वधा नमोस्तु ते ।।

This mantra is enchanted while putting tika to male member of family.

Ayur Drona sute sriyem Dasarathe, Satruk ksheyam Raghave,
Yaishoryem Nahushe, Gatischa pawane, Manancha Duryodhane,
Suaryam Shanta nave, Balam Haldhare, Satyaschha Kuntisute,
Bigyanam Bidure, Bhawanu Bhabatam, Kirtischha Narayane!

आयुर द्रोण सुते श्रेयम दशरथे , सत्रुक क्षेयम रघवे,
ऐश्र्वर्यम नहुशे , गतिस्च पवने, मानन्च दुर्योधने,
सौर्यम शान्त नवे, बलम हलधरे , सत्यस्च कुन्तीसुते ,
बिज्ञ।न बिदुरे, भवन्तु भबताम, किर्तिस्च नारायणे!