Fun facts of Dashain festival

Dashain is the longest and most celebrated festival of Nepal, lasting 15 days. it is also called ‘Bijaya Dashami‘ and ‘Bada Dashai’. It mainly celebrated by Hindus, but non-Hindus also celebrate it because of its fun aspects. The Dashain festival usually falls in September or October. It is mainly celebrated in Nepal, abroad, and among Nepali expatriates. On this page, we will discuss the most interesting facts about Dashain festival. Let’s read until the end to know all its fun facts.

It symbolizes the victory of good over evil

Dashain is primarily dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is believed to have killed the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of Dharma. Apart from this, according to the Hindu epic Ramayana, this festival also commemorates the return of Lord Rama after his victory over Ravana. Dashain is a festival of family reunions, worship, and joyous celebrations.

Festival full of religious and cultural significance

As a Religious Festival: This festival has immense religious significance. Devotees pray, perform rituals, and visit temples, especially those dedicated to Goddess Durga. People visit Durga temples in processions, offering flowers, fruits, and worship to seek her blessings.

As a Cultural Festival: Dashain is not only a religious festival but also a cultural festival that brings people together. Schools, offices, and businesses remain closed, allowing everyone to return to their native villages and spend a good time with family and friends. Homes are cleaned and decorated, and the entire atmosphere is filled with a sense of joy, excitement, and togetherness.

Dashai festival in not only full of religious and cultural significance, is also fascinating. In this, people try to forget the sorrows and pains of the whole year and rejoice. There are many exciting aspects of this historic traditional festival. Now let’s see Most Interesting Facts About Dashain Festival:

15 Most Interesting Facts About Dashain Festival

1. Longest and Most Celebrated Festival in Nepal

Dashain is the longest festival of Nepal which lasts for 15 days. It is also the most important festival for Hindus and non-Hindus of the country as it brings relatives together for fun and religious rituals.

2. Ghatasthapana Marks the Start

The festival begins with the day of Ghatasthapana, where the sacred kalash (vessel) is filled with water and barley seeds are planted in the sand to grow Jamra. This ritual invokes Goddess Durga. The worship of Goddess Durga also begins from the day of Ghatasthapana.

3. Jamara’s Color Significance

A particularly yellow-green jamra sprouted from barley or maize seeds is applied at the time of inoculation. Manai is a sacred flower or plant which is worn during Dasha festival. Its color represents prosperity and renewal. This custom coincides with the agricultural cycle in Nepal, as Dashain coincides with the post-monsoon harvest season.

4. Animal Sacrifices for Goddess Durga

Animal Sacrifice (Pashubali) is a tradition of Dashain, especially on prominent days such as Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. The tradition of sacrificing goats, buffaloes, ducks, and chickens in worship of Goddess Durga, when and why it started, is unknown. However, this practice has faced widespread criticism.
No one has the answer to the question of how Goddess Durga, who is considered the mother of all creatures, can eat the blood or sacrificed body of her children, animals, and birds. Therefore, it has started to be seen as a religious distortion. Along with the development of modern consciousness, the tradition of vegetarian worship has continued to develop, and sacrifice is decreasing.

5. Tika and Jamara Tradition

On the tenth day of Vijayadashami, the elders apply tika (a mixture of rice, curd and vermilion) and place Jamra on the foreheads of the younger family members, blessing them for health, longevity and prosperity. This ritual is unique to the Dashain festival and reinforces family unity and respect for elders.
During the Dashain festival, there is a widespread practice of taking blessings from those who are older than oneself, especially for 5 days after the Dashami day. Children are more happy with this tradition because they get money along with tika and blessings from adults.

6. Celebration of Victory Over Evil

Dashain celebrates the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura and the triumph of Lord Ram over the demon king Ravana, both symbolizing the ultimate triumph of good over evil. These stories come from Hindu mythology and are central to the festival’s meaning.

7. Phulpati Procession

The seventh day is called Phoolpati Day. On this day, Tudikhel of Kathmandu organizes a grand ceremony, during which the Nepali army shows a special parade. Historically, offerings from Gorkha are brought to Hanumandhoka palace on this day. On this day, it was customary to celebrate a grand public festival in the presence of the royal family under the performance of the Nepalese army, but after the end of the monarchy in Nepal, it is celebrated in a slightly different way.

8. Kite Flying Tradition

Kite flying is a popular activity during Dashain. It is believed that flying kites during this period was a way to send messages to the gods, asking for clear skies. It is also a joyful pastime for children and adults, adding to the festive atmosphere.

9. Swing Making (Ping)

Temporary bamboo swings, known as Ping, are set up in rural areas during Dashain. These traditional swings are popular among children and adults alike, and swinging high is believed to “lift away” the year’s burdens and sorrows. These kinds of swings are set up across the country and remain until the Tihar festival, which is celebrated after 15 days of Dashain.

10. Dashain Shopping Frenzy

Dashain is also a time of new clothes, gifts and feasts. People prepare in advance by buying new clothes especially for children. Dashain increases the number of people who shop in Nepal. During this time, businesses do good business. Dashain is a good season for all businesses, but sales of clothing, electronics, and livestock, vegetables, and food items are particularly high.

11. Vehicles and Tools Worship (Vishwakarma Puja)

On the ninth day of the Dashai Festival, known as Maha Navami, people worship their vehicles, machinery, and tools like in the Vishwakarma god Puja. This practice shows reverence for the tools of one’s livelihood, asking for blessings for safety, progress, and success.

12. Mass Migration Season of Nepali People

Dashain is seen as the biggest annual migration in Nepal as people travel to their ancestral homes to celebrate with family. Public transport is congested, and the streets are congested. If you don’t take advance train and plane tickets during this time, it is difficult to return home, as people return to their homes or villages from urban centers and from abroad.
During the Dashain season, about one lakh people leave the valley (Kathmandu) daily and go to other districts or their homes. Apart from this, it is customary for Nepalis who have gone abroad for employ return their home since few weeks before Dashain. Due to the tradition of returning home to relatives who have gone abroad, this time is also a season of family happiness.

13. Celebrated Beyond Nepal

Dashain is primarily a Nepali festival, but it is also celebrated in areas with a large Nepali population, such as Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Bhutan, and among Nepalis living in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore.
But apart from Nepal, Dashain is also celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, etc., according to different forms and names. For example, Dashai is called Dussehra Parv in India and is celebrated with various joyful and religious activities.

14. Eco-Friendly Movements Growing

Recently, there have been calls to celebrate Dashain more eco-friendly and healthily. These include reducing animal sacrifices, minimizing the danger and waste caused by mass gatherings and firecrackers, and normalizing the practice of celebrating Dashain by overspending.

15. Dashain’s Influence on Other Festivals

Dashain often coincides with or influences other Hindu festivals, such as Dussehra in India. These festivals share similar roots in celebrating Ram’s victory over Ravana and goddess Durga’s triumph over Mahishasura. However, Dashain has unique cultural and religious practices that distinguish it.

In Summary: Dashain is a time of joy, reunion and renewal in Nepal. From its religious roots to its cultural practices, Dashain is not just a festival, but a symbol of family bonding, tradition, and the values of resilience and morality. These interesting facts highlight the multifaceted nature of the festival and blend mythological traditions with modern day celebrations and customs.