Dashain

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Dashain ( Daśãi, Nepal or Baḍādaśãi बडादशैँ), also Bijayā Daśamī ) is a festival of Nepal. Durga Puja (Nepali : दुर्गा पुजा or Dashain is also celebrated in some parts of India where it is called Dashera.^[1]. It is celebrated by the Hindus of Nepal and the ethnic हिन्दू Nepali people of Indian hill states of Sikkim, Assam and Darjeeling district^[2] and among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan^[3] and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar.

It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendar, celebrated by Hindu Nepalese people, along with their diaspora throughout the globe. It is the most anticipated festival in Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and North Indian hills. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.^[2] All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period. The festival falls in September or October, starting from the shukla paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashwin and ending on Purnima, the full moon. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and the fifteenth.^[4]

Among the Newa of the Nepal mandal Kathmandu valley Dashain is celebrated as the most important festival of Nepal Sambat calendar year.^[5] Among the Hindus and Buddhist Newars, it is celebrated with slight differences and interpretations, where each nine days Navaratri (Nepal Bhasa: नवरात्री) leading up to the 10th day called 'Dashami' carry special importance.^[6] The goddess Durga and her various manifestations are especially worshiped by Hindu Newars throughout the Shaktipeeths of Kathmandu Valley. Among Newars, Mwohni is also important for its emphasis on family gatherings as well as on a renewal of community ties, highlighted by special family dinners called Nakhtyā (Nepal Bhasa: नख्त्या) and various community processions of deities called Jātrā (Nepal Bhasa: जात्रा) throughout the three royal cities of Kathmandu Valley.^[2]

Significance

Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

For followers of Shaktism, it represents the victory of the goddess Parvati. In Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had created terror in the devaloka (the world where gods live ) but Durga killed the rakshas(demon).^[7][8][9] The first nine days of Dashain symbolize the battle which took place between the different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally defeated him. For other Hindus, this festival symbolizes the victory of Ram over Ravan as recounted in the Ramayana.

Dashain is also celebrated by Nepalese Buddhists to honour adoption of Ahimsa and Buddhism by Ashoka, Indian emperor.^[10]

Day 1: Ghatasthapana dashain

The tilaka (in red) and jamara used during Dashain

Ghaṭasthāpanā (घटस्थापना "sowing Jamara") marks the beginning of Dashain.^[11][12] Literally, it means placing a kalasha or a pot, which symbolizes Durga. Ghaṭasthāpanā falls on the first day of the festival. On this day the Kalash is filled with holy water which is then covered with cow dung and sewn with barley seeds. Then the Kalash is put in the center of a rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The priest then starts the puja by asking Durga to bless the vessel with her presence. This ritual is performed at a certain auspicious time which is determined by the astrologers.^[13] The goddess is believed to reside in the vessel during navratri.^[14]

The room where all this is done is known as the Dasain Ghar. Traditionally, outsiders and women are not allowed to enter it. A male family member worships the Kalash twice every day, once in the morning and then in the evening. But the coming of time has brought about women empowerment and the woman now is equally responsible for doing these rituals. The Kalash is kept away from direct sunlight^[15] and holy water is offered to it every day, so that by the tenth day of the festival the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. This sacred grass is known as jamara. These rituals continue until the seventh day.

Day 9: Maha Navami

People standing in queue to visit the Taleju Bhawani Mandir

The ninth day of dashain is called Mahanavami, "the great ninth day". This is the last day of Navaratri. Ceremonies and rituals reach the peak on this day. On this day, official military ritual sacrifices are held in one of the Hanuman Dhoka royal palaces, the Kot courtyard. On this occasion, the state offers the sacrifices of buffaloes under the gunfire salutes. This day is also known as the demon-hunting day because members of the defeated demon army try to save themselves by hiding in the bodies of animals and fowls.

On Mahanavami, Vishvakarman, the god of creation, is worshiped as it believed that all the things which help us in making a living should be kept happy. Artisans, craftsmen, traders, and mechanics worship and offer animal and fowl blood to their tools, equipment, and vehicles. Moreover, since it is believed that worshipping the vehicles on this day avoids accidents for the year all the vehicles from bikes, cars to trucks are worshiped on this day.

The Taleju Temple gates are opened to the general public on only this day of the year. Thousands of devotees go and pay respect to the goddess this day. The temple is filled with devotees all day long.^[17]

Day 10: Bijaya Dashami or Vijaya Dashami

Father and mother putting tika on their children’s head during Dashain festival

The tenth day of the festival is the 'Dashami'. On this day, a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermilion is prepared by the women. This preparation is known as "tika". Often dashain tika time^[18] is different every year. Elders put this tika and jamara which is sown in the Ghatasthapana on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with abundance in the upcoming years. The red also symbolizes the blood that ties the family together. Elders give "Dakshina", or a small amount of money, to younger relatives at this time along with the blessings. This continues to be observed for five days till the full moon during which period families and relatives visit each other to exchange gifts and greetings. This ritual of taking tika from all the elder relatives (even the distant relatives) helps in the renewal of the community ties greatly. This is one reason why the festival is celebrated with so much vigor and enthusiasm.

Before the collapse of the monarchy system in Nepal, thousands of people ranging from the ministers, diplomats and general public used to gather in the old royal palace to take the tika and blessing from the king who is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, after the collapse of the monarchy system the president of the country who is considered the head of the state has been continuing the trend by offering the tika to the general public.

Day 15: Kojagrata Purnima

The last day of the festival which lies on the full moon day is called 'Kojagrata' Purnima. The literal meaning of Kojagrata is 'who is awake'. On this day Goddess Laxmi who is believed to be the goddess of wealth is worshiped as it believed that Goddess Laxmi descends on earth and showers whoever is awake all night with wealth and prosperity. People enjoy the night by playing cards and much more.

Elder celebrating Dashain festival by putting tika on a child

Animal sacrifices are often the norms during this time, as the festival commemorates the mythical bloody battles between the "divine" and "demonic" powers. The proponents of animal sacrifice interpret that this sacrificial act as the symbolic sacrifice of our animal qualities, but those who are opposed to animal sacrifice stress that the sacrificial act is nothing but an excuse to fulfill the appetite for food/meat.^[19]

Forms of celebration

The Malshree dhun is incorporated into mainstream Nepalese music as the music of Dashain. It is the tune that announces the Dashain has arrived. Malashree dhun is one of the oldest surviving devotional music of Newa artform, with its origin in the 17th century.^[20]In due time and also the fact that Dashain happens to be celebrated not just by Newars but by all Nepalese, this dhoon caught up and now is part of the national culture and played during Dashain.

Dashain ritual

As Dashain approaches, kite flying becomes more and more common. Riding kites has been a very important part of celebrating Dasain in the country, as it is considered to be one way of reminding God not to send rain anymore.^[21] During the festival people of all ages fly kites from their roofs. Colorful kites and voices shouting out 'change cheat' (this phrase is usually used when one cuts the other person's kite string) fill the days during the festival.

Playing cards is another way of celebrating Dasain.^[21] While children be busy flying kites during Dasain, the older members of the family pass their time by getting together and playing cards with each other for money and fun.

Buying and wearing new clothes is an important part of the festival. As many people living in the villages are below the poverty line, for them it is often the case that new clothes come only with Dasain.^[21] Almost all the shops have festival offers and discounts. This makes shopping more attractive. Clothes is the item which has the highest sales during the festival.^[17]

Children playing on traditional bamboo swings

Bamboo swings are constructed in many parts of the country as a way of celebration. Dashian swings are called 'ping' in Nepali. They present the best of local culture, tradition, community spirit and fun.^[22] These swings are constructed by community members with traditional methods which use ropes made from tough grass, bamboo sticks and wood, etc. The swings are normally constructed a week before Ghatasthapana and dismantled only after the festival of Tihar which comes after Dasain. The height of some swings exceeds twenty feet. People of all ages enjoy in the swings. They are especially famous with children.

Fairs and celebrations are organized during the festival. Usually, small fairs are organized in the villages with Ferris wheels for children and other entertainment for the adults. However, in the city commercial fairs and celebrations are usually organized.

Thousands of animals including buffalo, ducks, and rams are slaughtered in Dasain every year. It has been considered an important ritual since it is believed that the goddesses are appeased by such sacrifices. Almost all the temples, especially the Durga and Kali temples, are offered with thousands of sacrifices. Ashtami and Navami are the days when the sacrifices reach a peak. While thousands of animals are sacrificed to appease the goddesses, people also slaughter animals for feasts. Since many feasts and gatherings are organized throughout the fifteen days of the festival, the demand for meat goes up considerably. To meet the demand, the slaughtering of animals becomes considerably high and necessary.^[23][24]

However, for the past few years, the animal rights activists in the country have been continuously opposing these acts of slaughter. They have been requesting people to stop such inhuman acts and instead have suggested them to offer fruits and vegetables to the goddesses since they believe that it is mentioned nowhere in the Hindu religious books that animal sacrifices appease the gods and goddesses.

Controversy

The festival of Dashain is often criticized for its animal sacrifice.^[25][26] Many online petitions have been registered on Change.org, calling for a government action against mass slaughter. Driven by the belief that offerings of fresh blood will appease goddess Durga, scores of animals and birds are ritually slaughtered especially in the eighth and ninth day of the festival.^[27] Birds and animals that are traditionally eligible for sacrifice include goats, buffaloes, sheep, chickens, and ducks.^[28] Some animal activists have called for the use of pumpkins and coconuts, as opposed to birds and animals.^[29]

Numerous national luminaries and animal rights activists alike have expressed their concerns over the issue of animal cruelty in the festival. On October 3, 2016, renowned Nepali comedian Hari Bansha Acharya wrote a satirical piece on Nepal Saptahik – entitled "Euta Khasiko Aatmakatha" (Autobiography of a Goat) – in light of "horrendous" exploitation inflicted upon animals during the festival.^[30] Moreover, another noted actor and comedian Deepak Raj Giri urged his Facebook followers to go vegetarian or at least refrain from posting "disturbing" images of animal sacrifices on social media.^[31][32]

Dashain has also become controversial in Nepal's current political climate as several indigenous groups (adivasi janajati) argue that festival has been imposed on them by the state. In an effort to resist what they view as the cultural domination by the Hindu elites that dominate the Nepali state, several organizations have organized a boycott of Dashain. So far those campaigns have had limited effect across the country, but they do reveal the political origins and importance of the festival.^[33]

See also

• Malshree dhun
• Vijayadashami
• Durga Puja
• Mohani
• Chhath

References