DASAIN

Through the festival of Dasain commences on first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Aswin and lasts for a fortnight, yet a few days between the seventh and tenth day aree of special importance. The first day of Dasain is known as Ghatsthapana when barley seeds are sown in sands brought from holy river from which a freshly germinated shoot looking like yellow flower springs out, Fulpati is on the seventh day when a state procession of government officials starts from Hanuman Dhoka to receive the flowers from Gorkha, the home town of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of greater Nepal nation state. Lots of slow and fast gun-fires are a feature of this day that people enjoy. On its eighth day, the festival is known as Maha-Astami – a day of feasting, enjoyment and, to some extent, of animal sacrifices to goddess Bhagavati. Navami or the ninth day is the special day of animal sacrifices offered to goddess Durga or Bhagavati. Lots of buffalos and goats are killed. Goddess Durga is known to have killed the buffalo demon (Mahisasura) by herself. The tenth say is known as Vijaya Dasami or the day of victory over evils. Rama is known to have defeated Ravana on this day. Exchange of greetings, feasting with friends and relatives, visiting one’s superiors for blessings and various other social entertainment programmes are part of the festival.

The celebration of Dasain is centered around the worship of Shakti, or the mother goddess Durga. The tradition of worship of Shakti or feminine power has an ancient origin. Interesting hymns dedicated to the glory of Aadi Shakti, the eternal universal mother are proof of its Vedic origins. Some of her earlier names mentioned in the Vedas are Usha, Prithvi, Vac, Ratri, Aditi and so on. The Puranas are also full of praise for mother goddesses.