Dashain Festival The most Auspicious Festival of Neplease Hindu Dashain (Bada Dashain) is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people throughout the globe. It is not only the longest festival of the country but is also the one which is most anticipated. The festival falls in September or October, starting from the shukla paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashvin and ending on purnima (the full moon). It is celebrated for 15 days; the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth. Throughout the country Shakti is worshiped in all her manifestations. This festival is also known for its emphasis on the family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period. Day 1 Celebrated yesterday with happiness and joy. Ghatastahpana (placing a water-pot) marks the beginning of Dashain. It literally means placing a kalash or pot, which symbolizes Durga. Ghaṭasthapana falls on the first day of the festival. On this day the kalasha is filled with holy water which is then covered with cow dung and sewn with barley seeds. Then the kalasha 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. The goddess is believed to reside in the vessel during Navratri. 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 kalasha twice every day, once in the morning and then in the evening. But the coming of time has brought about women empowerment and the women now are equally responsible for doing these familial rituals. The kalasha is kept away from direct sunlight 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. More ON Day 7; Day 8; Day 9 & Day 10 Stay with Book any trips for the year 2014/ 2015 and get 10% discount during this period. ametreks
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 04:26:00 +0000
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