Dashain - Nepali

Hello! I am Dashain, and for many people in the country of Nepal, I am the longest and most important festival of the year. I arrive in the autumn, when the weather is pleasant, and my celebrations continue for 15 days. People observe me to honor the victory of good over evil. My days are a special time for families to gather and for communities to share in joyful activities. My purpose is to remember that goodness and righteousness can overcome darkness, which is a happy reason for a festival.

My celebration is connected to a famous Hindu story about a very powerful goddess named Durga. According to this story, a fierce demon named Mahishasur was causing great trouble in the world, and no one could stop him. The goddess Durga bravely decided to fight him to bring peace back to the world. The story says that their battle was incredible, lasting for nine full nights. On the tenth day, the goddess Durga finally defeated the demon. Her victory is at the very heart of why people celebrate me.

My 15 days of observance begin with a quiet and meaningful first day. This day is called Ghatasthapana. On this day, families clean a special prayer room in their homes to get it ready. They take a pot, often made of clay or metal, and fill it with soil. Inside, they carefully plant barley seeds. These special seeds are called jamara. For the next several days, families watch over the pot as the seeds sprout and grow into long, bright green shoots. These shoots are a symbol of new life and will become a very important part of my tenth day.

After many days of preparation, my tenth day arrives. It is the most special day of all and is called Vijaya Dashami. This name means “the tenth day of victory.” On this day, families travel to be together. The younger members of the family show respect to the elders, like their grandparents, parents, aunts, and uncles. In return, the elders give them a special blessing. They make a red mark called a tika, made from rice and colored powder, and place it on the forehead of each younger person. Along with the tika, they give them some of the green jamara shoots that have been growing. This is a way to wish them good health, happiness, and good fortune for the year ahead.

My days are also filled with fun and excitement. During my observance, the bright blue autumn skies are often dotted with colorful kites. People of all ages fly these kites from their rooftops, watching them soar and dance in the wind. In villages and towns, people also work together to build huge swings made from bamboo poles and rope. These special swings are called pings. Children and adults line up to take turns, swinging as high as they can into the air. These activities bring everyone together in a spirit of joy and celebration.