Mahan Chaad Dashain
Dashain is the longest
and most celebrated festival in Nepal. The way of celebration and name
differs, but most Nepali celebrates it for about 15 days with same zeal and
enthusiasm. Dashain is the celebration of victory of good over evil. This
festival symbolize that good always prevail over bad.Dashain
has its own stories, importance and significance. To make it colorful, Nepali
people, wherever they live, they try to reach home to see their family in
Dashain.
Family gathering and
food celebration is the most loved part of this festival. In every house
animals are scarifies and eaten as prasad. Different kinds of meat and
vegetables dishes are made and enjoy with new cuisine. People say if you leave
the ground swinging in Dashain, the swing will take away ill feelings and
replace it with new and rejuvenation inside oneself. Kite flying is another
attraction for youth. People wake up early in the morning and go to temples of
Devi Durga. On the tenth day, people put Prasad of victory. In hilly reasons
people put tika and Jamar from the hands of elders on their foreheads.
Dashain has 15 days
celebration.The first day of this festival starts from Ghatasthapana. The
"Dashain Ghar", or special worship room, is set up,to
start pooja of Durga Bhawani. This room is used to plant barley called
Jamara in Nepali and to worship the Astha-Matrikas (the 8 tantrik Goddesses) as
well as the Nava Durgas (the 9 Goddess Durga) for remaining 9 days. (All
these 9 days have their own importance in Dashain celebration). Barley is sowed
in sand brought from river, and the barley is called Jamara when it is
grown. These seeds will sprout in ten days. The sprouts, which symbolize a
good harvest, will be decoratively placed on the heads of family members later
on in the festival as a blessing.This Dashian mantra enchanted
generally while putting tika to female member of family.
Om Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadra Kali Kapalini
Durga Kshyama shiva dhatri swaha swadha namostu te
This mantra is enchanted while putting tika to male member of family.
Ayur Drona sute sriyem Dasarathe, Satruk ksheyam Raghave,
Yaishoryem Nahushe, Gatischa pawane, Manancha Duryodhane,
Suaryam Shanta nave, Balam Haldhare, Satyaschha Kuntisute,
Bigyanam Bidure, Bhawanu Bhabatam, Kirtischha Narayane!
