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DEVELOPMENT REGIONS

Nepal is divided into five development regions for balanced development of the country. The five regions starting from East to West are named as Eastern Region, Middle Region, Western Region, Mid-Western Region and the Far Western Region. All those regions are home to a diverse landscape – from the low lands to the high Himalayas where diverse ethnic groups and people from varied levels of economic and social brackets or status live in. This division of the country into five divisions is aimed at integrating the regions and giving identity to each of them and also for balanced development of all the regions. 

DEMOCRACY DAY

Nepal observes its Democracy day on seventh day of Falgun or Phagun which starts someday in the middle of February. It was the historic day in the year 1950 when a democratic government came into existence in Nepal by ousting a century long family autocracy of the Rana’s. In response to the great revolution of the people, King Tribhuvan announced the interim democratic constitution on that day and since then, this day is observed as Democracy Day every year. See “Revolution of 1950” and   Shah Dev, Tribhuvan Veer Bikram. 

DEEPAWALI

See Tihar. An enjoyable festivals following Dasain. Deepavali, literally means the festival of lights, also known as Tihar, is celebrated every year throughout Nepal with pomp and grandeur. The celebration of this festival generally begins on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Kartik around October and goes on until the second day of the following bright fortnight. This festival is celebrated continuously for five days. Because of this unbroken chain of celebration, it is known by the name of Panchak which denotes five days long. We may also call it the festival of nights. Because the first thing that comes to sight on thinking of Deepavali is the beginning of the night time. In other words, to derive any delight from the lights alone, one must await the arrival of night. 
Though this festival has many fascinating features, the most magnificent one amongst them is the decoration of the door-ways and windows with majestic marigolds and oil lamps every evening during the entire period of celebration. 
The making of the lamps in the very beginning of the festive evening has a spiritual significance. It represents the aspiration for enlightenment or knowledge whereas darkness stands for ignorance. The entire illumination work is indicative of intention to conquer Avidya or darkness by means of Vidya or light. In other words, this symbolizes liberation from ignorance for self-realization. In order to make it further clear, story from Hindu mythology may be referred to.  
Once there broke out a war between demons and deities. Narkasura, the head of the demons, fought furiously for his fame until he won the war. Puffed up with victory, the head demon designed himself as the overlord of the worlds. Cruel and corrupted as he was, he also started insulting the innocent wives of defeated Gods. This was a big shock to their helpless husbands. It was his command and wish that anything considered excellent taking from the materials down to any means of sensual pleasures be immediately offered to him or be made available for him. It is said that the slaves under his command were able to bring altogether 16000 princesses with blooming beauty and flaming youth for his fun. They were all kept under his cruel control. 
It is, however interesting to note that the four giant sentinels with five heads stationed by him in four cardinal directions to safeguard his frontiers had all been killed by Lord Krishna. They were Mura, Hayagriva, Nishumbha and Panchajanya.  

Narkasura was none other than a frightening figure of tyranny. It is said that a mention of his name alone was enough to scare the innocent people to death. People were so afraid of him that they didn’t even dare light up their houses in the evenings. According to this Puranic story, the celebration of this festival came into practice from the very day when Lord Krishna killed Narkasura.

DAXINKALI

This being the goddess Kali and situated in the southern side of Kathmandu, the name Daxinkali (southern Kali) is familiar. People go to worship Kali mainly on Tuesdays and Saturdays and generally sacrifice chicken or goat. After the name of goddess Daxinkali, the surrounding area itself is known by the same name. These days, it has become a popular picnic spot because of its beautiful natural environment suitable for hiking and resting purposes.

DASHRATH CHAND

Courageous freedom fighter Dashrath Chand was a prominent martyr shot dead by the Rana autocracy in 1941. Having propagated and worked for political consciousness of the people for a total revolution against the family autocracy of the Ranas, he was given a death penalty by the then regime. Spectators noticed the unbelievable bravery and courage when they saw Dashrath Chand was not perturbed nor even slightly hesitant to stand and get shot at. He is one of the four most respected martyrs of Nepal. (Possible to put the names of the other three of the most respected martyrs of Nepal???)

DAMARU

Damaru is a kind of traditional handy Drum. Damaru is used in religious worshipping and other rites. It is a small two-faced drum with a leather string tied over the narrow middle part of it.  A bone or wooden ended string is knotted with the string. When the Damaru is swung or moved by hand in a faster motion once to the left and once to the right alternatively, the wooden or bone ends of the string make rattling sound on the membranes fitted on both faces of the drum.  It is appeared along with the trident or Trisula in association with Shiva cults. This tantric symbol is supposed to be composed of two half-skulls put together.   

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. 

DARCHULA

This is a district lies in the Mahakali zone and is located at the extreme western part of Nepal. It shares borders with Dharchula of Uttar Pradesh in India. The headquarter of this district is Khalanga. Darchula’s population is 121996.

DARAI

Darais are mainly found in Damauli of Tanahu District and on the banks of Madi River. Flat-nosed, short in stature and stout in built, Darais are prominently boatmen and fishermen. The Darai language is imbued with Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magar and Gurung languages. Darai women enjoy a place of esteem in their society. Darais marry after having children. They profess Buddhism, and alcohol accentuates their religious ceremonies.