<NEPAL>
Dashain
Dashain is the biggest festival of Hindus in Nepal. But in Nepal non-Hindus also celebrate this festival with equal charm and delight as this festival becomes a medium for family gatherings, quality time with relatives, sharing joys and sorrow together and so on. According to Hindu mythology, there are four yuga( era). Among them in Treta Yuga, Lord Ram had won the battle against Ravan who in Ramayan was an evil character who kidnapped lord ram’s wife and Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahisasur. The dashain is celebrated to rejoice the victory of good over evil.
Dashain festival is celebrated for 15 days however not every day is equally busy. The first day of Dashain is called “Ghatasthapana”. In this day, usually a male in a family place a statue of durga; utensils made up of mud consisting of coconut, mango leaves, bar-peepal leaves and other worshipping material is made and goddess durga is worshipped. Then, a process by which jamara( a holy greenish yellow grass used during tika) is developed is kept. To develop jamara family members soak maize, oat and wheatgrain in water all day and at the evening it is kept in a box with sand and stored in cool and dark place where it won’t come in contact with sun. In this way the first day of the dashain is over. The other days don’t have anything special except the worshipping part till seventh day which is known as “ Fulpati”. In this day, specific amount of jamara, a vegetable called giraula, sugarcane and ricegrain are placed in the temple of goddess durga and worshipped and the fulpati is over. The eight day of dashain is known as Mahaasthami where again goddess durga is worshipped in the same procedure. And animals such as goat, sheep, buffalo, pig etc. are sacrificed and then consumed by family members. The ninth day goes normally and the tenth day is known as “VIJAYADASHAMI” which is the most important day of Dashain. This day is called Vijayadashami because on this day the goddess had own over demons and the term Vijaya denotes victory. On this day family members put tika which is made up of ricegrain and either red color or white and jamara . Elders give their blessings to the younger ones. Cards, Swings, Kites are played with friends and family and with delight the day is over. People continue the process of putting tika and jamara till the 15th and final day of Dashain. And by letting jamara, tika and other materials used in dashain to drown in holy river, the dashain festival is over.
The festival brings lots of joy to family and is a major reason for reunion among family members in Nepal. If dashain is celebrated without imitating others and decreasing the habit of spending money unnecessarily this festival is a delight.
Dashain
Dashain is the biggest festival of Hindus in Nepal. But in Nepal non-Hindus also celebrate this festival with equal charm and delight as this festival becomes a medium for family gatherings, quality time with relatives, sharing joys and sorrow together and so on. According to Hindu mythology, there are four yuga( era). Among them in Treta Yuga, Lord Ram had won the battle against Ravan who in Ramayan was an evil character who kidnapped lord ram’s wife and Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahisasur. The dashain is celebrated to rejoice the victory of good over evil.
Dashain festival is celebrated for 15 days however not every day is equally busy. The first day of Dashain is called “Ghatasthapana”. In this day, usually a male in a family place a statue of durga; utensils made up of mud consisting of coconut, mango leaves, bar-peepal leaves and other worshipping material is made and goddess durga is worshipped. Then, a process by which jamara( a holy greenish yellow grass used during tika) is developed is kept. To develop jamara family members soak maize, oat and wheatgrain in water all day and at the evening it is kept in a box with sand and stored in cool and dark place where it won’t come in contact with sun. In this way the first day of the dashain is over. The other days don’t have anything special except the worshipping part till seventh day which is known as “ Fulpati”. In this day, specific amount of jamara, a vegetable called giraula, sugarcane and ricegrain are placed in the temple of goddess durga and worshipped and the fulpati is over. The eight day of dashain is known as Mahaasthami where again goddess durga is worshipped in the same procedure. And animals such as goat, sheep, buffalo, pig etc. are sacrificed and then consumed by family members. The ninth day goes normally and the tenth day is known as “VIJAYADASHAMI” which is the most important day of Dashain. This day is called Vijayadashami because on this day the goddess had own over demons and the term Vijaya denotes victory. On this day family members put tika which is made up of ricegrain and either red color or white and jamara . Elders give their blessings to the younger ones. Cards, Swings, Kites are played with friends and family and with delight the day is over. People continue the process of putting tika and jamara till the 15th and final day of Dashain. And by letting jamara, tika and other materials used in dashain to drown in holy river, the dashain festival is over.
The festival brings lots of joy to family and is a major reason for reunion among family members in Nepal. If dashain is celebrated without imitating others and decreasing the habit of spending money unnecessarily this festival is a delight.
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