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Dashain

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Dashain
Dashain commemorates Durga's slaying of the demon Mahishasura.[1]
Official nameबडादसैँ
Also calledBijaya Dashami, Nauratha
Observed byNepalese and Indian Gorkha Hindus and Buddhists
TypeReligious, cultural
SignificanceA festival commemorating the victory of good over evil
CelebrationsMarks the end of Durga Puja
ObservancesWorshipping nine forms of Durga, visiting Shakti Pithas and pandals, organizing plays, visiting relatives, feasts, community gathering, recitation of scriptures, immersion of the idol Durga or burning of Ravana
DateAshvin or Kartika (September to November)
Related toVijaya Dashami

Dashain or Bada'dashain, also known as Vijaya Dashami in Sanskrit, is a Hindu religious festival in Nepal, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, South India, and Sri Lanka.[2] It is also celebrated by other religions in Nepal and elsewhere,[3] including the Lhotshampa of Bhutan[4] and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar. The festival is also known as Nauratha, derived from the Sanskrit word for the festival: Navaratri (Nine Nights).[5]

The longest festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendars, it is celebrated by Nepali Hindus and their diaspora. In Nepal, the 15-day festival is the country's longest. People return from all parts of the world and different parts of the country to celebrate together.[3] The festival falls in September or October, beginning on the Shukla Paksha (bright lunar night) of the month of Ashvin and ending on Purnima, the full moon. Of the fifteen days it is celebrated, the most celebrated are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and fifteenth.[6]

Etymology

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Vaḍādaśain̐ (वडादशैँ) is a Nepali sandhi. Bbaḍā (बडा) means "important"; daśa͠i (दशैं) means "tenth", implying the most-significant final day of the festival of Durga Puja and celebrating the dawn after Nauratha (nine nights). The word Dashain is derived from the Sanskrit word daśamī, denoting the 12th day of Kaula in this context.

Significance

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For followers of Shaktism, Dashain represents the victory of Durga over Mahishasura (who had terrorised the devas and usurped their abode, Svarga).[7][8][9] The festival's first nine days symbolize the battle between different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura; on the tenth day, Durga is victorious. For other Hindus, it symbolizes the victory of Rama over Ravana (as told in the Ramayana) and the triumph of good over evil.

Day 1: Ghatasthapana

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Yellow grass on a plate
Jamara is sown on Ghatasthapna. The grass is grown in a dark room for nine days, and received as a prasad on the tenth day.

Ghatasthapana (घटस्थापना; "sowing jamara") is celebrated by Jhijhiya folk dancing across Mithila in Madhesh Province as the beginning of Dashain.[10][11] A kalasha (pot) symbolizes Durga. It is filled with holy water in which barley seeds are sown, and placed in the center of a rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also seeded with grains. A priest begins the puja by asking Durga to bless the vessel with her presence. The ritual is performed at an astrologically-determined time,[12] and Durga is believed to reside in the vessel during Navaratri.[13]

The puja room is known as the Dashain Ghar, which is traditionally closed to outsiders. The kalasha is worshiped in the morning and evening, and is kept away from direct sunlight.[14] By the tenth day, the seed will have sprouted to five- or six-inch-long yellow grass known as jamara. The rituals continue until the seventh day.

Day 7: Phulpati

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Phulpati (फूलपाती) is celebrated on the seventh day of Dashain. Phulpati is made up of two words: phūl (flower) and pātī (leaf).

A sunlit courtyard
Gorkha Palace, the ancestral seat of the Shah kings
An old red-brick tower
Kathmandu Durbar Square, the old royal palace of Kathmandu

On this day the Phulpati (the kalasha, banana stalks, Jamara, and sugar cane tied with red cloth) is brought by Magars from Gorkha – a three-day walk, about 169 kilometres (105 miles) from the Kathmandu Valley. Hundreds of formally-dressed government officials gather on the Tundikhel ground for the event. The king observed the ceremony at Tundikhel, and the Phulpati parade marched towards the Hanuman Dhoka complex. The Nepali Army fires a 10- to 15-minute feu de joie and a 21-gun salute, followed by a military parade. The Phulpati is brought to the Hanuman Dhoka palace.[15]

Since 2001,when the royal family was overthrown, the two-century-old tradition has changed and the Phulpati goes to the residence of the president. The president assumed the king's social and religious roles after the end of the monarchy, in addition to being commander-in-chief of the army. The Phulpati parade at Tundikhel is still held as a expression of army loyalty to Nepali traditions and culture.[16]

In other cities and towns across Nepal and India, a Phulpati procession takes place. Flowers, fruit and holy symbols are tied in a red cloth, which is covered with a red shawl and carried on a decorated log. Townspeople offer flowers and fruit as the procession passes their houses,[17][18] accompanied by traditional Naumati instruments.[19]

Day 9: Maha Navami

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A watercolour painting
A Maha Navami celebration in 1856
A large temple
Taleju Temple is open to the public only on Maha Navami

The ninth day of Dashain is Maha Navami, "the great ninth day". The last day of Navaratri, ceremonies and rituals reach a peak. On this day, official ritual sacrifices of the Nepal Armed Forces are held in both one of the Hanuman Dhoka royal palaces, the Kot courtyard grounds, and in the presidential palace yard.

On Maha Navami, Durga is celebrated. Artisans, craftsmen, traders, and mechanics worship and offer animal and fowl blood to their tools, equipment, and vehicles. The Taleju Temple gates are opened to the general public only on this day, and thousands of devotees pay their respects to the goddess.[20]

Day 10: Bijaya Dashami

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Colourful foods on a plate
The Tika (in red) and jamara used during Dashain

The tenth day of the festival is the Bijaya dashami. On this day, a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermilion is prepared which is known as "tika". Dashain tika time[21] differs by year. Elders put this tika and jamara on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with abundance in the future. Red symbolizes the blood that ties the family and community together.

Day 11: Papakunsha Ekadashi

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A man anoints the forehead of a young girl
An elder celebrates Dashain by putting tika on a child.

Ekadashi is the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, and people usually fast. The day after Bijaya Dashami is known as Papakunsha Ekadashi (पापकुंश एकादशी). On this day, it is customary to listen to Papakunsha Ekadashi stories and visit religious sites.[22] Donating objects such as gold, sesame, barley, grain, soil, umbrellas, and shoes is believed to lead to heaven after death.[23]

Day 15: Kojagrat Purnima

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The festival's last day, on the full-moon day, is known as Kojagrat Purnima (कोजाग्रत पूर्णिमा) or Sharad Purnima. The literal meaning of Kojagrat is "who is awake". Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshipped because it is believed that she descends to earth and showers whoever is awake all night with prosperity. Activities that night include playing cards.[24]

Animal sacrifice is common, as the festival commemorates the bloody battles between divine and demonic powers. Proponents interpret it as the symbolic sacrifice of animal qualities, and those opposed to animal sacrifice call it an excuse to satisfy the appetite for meat.[25]

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Music

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Malshree dhoon has been incorporated into mainstream Nepalese music as the music of Dashain, announcing that the festival has begun. It is some of the oldest surviving Newa-language devotional music, originating in the 17th century.[26]

Mantras

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Food and a lit candle
A Dashain ritual

While putting tikas on younger family members, elders usually recite Sanskrit mantras as a blessing. Two main mantras are recited while applying tikas on Bijaya Dashami: one for men and one for women.

In the male mantra, the qualities of mythical Hindu heroes (such as Yudhishthira and Balarama) and antiheroes (Ashwatthama and Duryodhana) are extolled.[27]

Mantra for men and boys
IAST English translation

Āyu Droṇasute śreyaṃ Daśarathe śatrukṣayeṃ Rāghave

Aiśvaryaṃ Nahuṣe gatiścha Pavane mānaṃ cha Duryodhane

Dānaṃ Sūryasute balaṃ Haladhare satyaṃ cha Kuntīsute

Vijñānaṃ Vidure bhavantu bhavatāṃ kīrtiścha Nārāyaṇe

May you have a long life as the son of Drona (Ashwatthama)

May you be as fortunate as Dasharatha

May you defeat all your enemies as Raghava

May you have the grandeur of Nahusha

May you have the speed of Pavana (wind)

May you be as respected as Duryodhana

May you be giving as the son of Surya (Karna)

May you have the strength of the plough wielder (Balarama)

May you be truthful as the son of Kunti (Yudhishthira)

May you have the intelligence of Vidura

May you have the glory of Narayana

The female mantra worships women as various form of goddess Durga.[28]

Mantra for women and girls
IAST English translation

Jayanti Maṅgalā Kālī Bhadrakālī Kapālinī
Durgā Kṣamā Śivā Dhātrī Svāhā Svadhā Namokastute

I bow before thee, who exists in various forms as Jayanti, Mangalā, Kāli, Bhadrakāli, Kapalini,
Durgā, Kshāma, Shivā, Dhatri, Svāhā and Svadhā.

In addition to these mantras, other blessings for good health and fortune are given.

Games and carnivals

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A man flying a kite, seen from behind
Kites are flown during Dashain.
A tree swing, with the setting sun in the background
Children on a traditional Dashain swing (Linge Ping) in Palpa, Nepal in 2019
A four-seat wooden Ferris wheel
A wooden Ferris wheel

As Dashain approaches, kite-flying becomes more common. Kites are considered one way of reminding God to stop sending rain.[29] During the festival, people of all ages fly kites from their roofs. Colourful kites and voices shouting "changā chet" (when a person cuts another's kite string) fill the days. Playing cards is another way of celebrating Dashain.[29]

Bamboo swings are built in many parts of the country, and Dashain swings are known as ping in Nepali.[30] The swings, made with traditional methods, are normally constructed a week before Ghatasthapana – the first day of Navratri – and dismantled after the festival of Tihar (which follows Dashain). The height of some swings exceeds twenty feet, and they are especially popular with children.

Fairs and celebrations are organized during the festival. Small village fairs have Ferris wheels for children and other entertainment for adults. In the city, commercial fairs and celebrations are usually held.

Shopping

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Buying and wearing new clothes is an important part of Dashain. Many people in the villages are poor, and new clothes are synonymous with Dashain for them.[29] Almost all shops have festival discounts, and clothing has its highest sales during the festival.[20]

Feasts

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A meat-and-rice dish
Rakti with chiura

Thousands of animals, including buffalo, ducks, and rams, are slaughtered during Dashain every year. It is believed that the goddesses are appeased by the sacrifices. Almost all the temples, especially the Durga and Kali temples, receive thousands of sacrifices. Ashtami and Navami are the days when the sacrifices peak. Thousands of animals are sacrificed to appease the goddesses, and people also slaughter animals for feasts. Since many feasts and gatherings are organized throughout the festival's fifteen days, demand for meat increases considerably.[31][32]

Dashain abroad

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Bhutan

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Dashain was declared a national holiday in Bhutan in 1980.[33] It is celebrated by the country's Hindu community, and is a major Lhotshampa festival. The king of Bhutan offers the Dashain tika to representatives of the Hindu community at the Devi Panchayan Mandir in Thimphu every year, and tika and royal blessings are sent to other dzongkhags across the country. The king also offers prayers to Durga at the Hindu temple.[34] White tika is used.[35][36]

India

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Dashain is celebrated by Nepali-speaking communities in Darjeeling, Sikkim and Assam. The Gorkhaland movement increased the importance of the Dashain and Tihar festivals. A red tika is used.[37] Nepalese people working in India return en masse during the festival, causing congestion in border areas.[38]

Myanmar

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Myanmar has a Nepali-speaking population of about 100,000 people. Fewer animal sacrifices are made during Dashain, and tika is traditionally offered to descendants of the Konbaung dynasty. Kite-flying is uncommon.[39]

Criticism

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Dashain is criticized for its animal sacrifice,[40][41][42] and online petitions have been registered on Change.org calling for government action against it. Many animals and birds are ritually slaughtered, especially on the festival's eighth and ninth days.[43] Birds and animals traditionally sacrificed include goats, buffaloes, sheep, chickens, and ducks.[44] Thousands of animals are traded to sacrifice for meat.[45] Animal-welfare activists have called for the use of pumpkins and coconuts instead of birds and animals.[46]

National figures and animal-rights activists have expressed concern about animal cruelty during Dashain. On 3 October 2016, Nepali comedian Hari Bansha Acharya wrote a satirical piece for Saptahik entitled "Euta Khasiko Aatmakatha" ("Autobiography of a Goat") in light of the exploitation of animals during the festival.[47]

Indigenous groups (adivasi janajati) have said that Dashain is imposed on them by the state. To resist what they see as cultural domination by the Hindu elite who dominate Nepal, several organizations have organized a boycott of the festival. The campaigns have had limited effect, since Dashain and other cultural celebrations are ingrained in Nepalese society.[48]

References

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  30. ^ "To Swing On A Ping". ECS.com.np. Archived from the original on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
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  33. ^ Hofbauer, H. (1996). "Bhutan". Human Rights in Development Yearbook. 3: 75–115. doi:10.1163/9789004208162_005. ISBN 9789004208162.
  34. ^ Newspaper, Bhutan's Daily. "His Majesty The King grants Dashain Tika". Kuensel Online. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  35. ^ "चार दशकअघि नेपाल आएका शरणार्थीले अझै बिर्सिन सकेका छैनन् भुटानको दशैँ". BBC News नेपाली. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  36. ^ Newspaper, Bhutan's Daily. "Her Majesty and HRH Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck attend Tika ceremony". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  37. ^ "भारतका नेपाली भाषी: दशैँ भन्दा ठूलो कुनै चाड छैन". BBC News नेपाली. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  38. ^ श्रेष्ठ, कुमार (11 September 2019). "कामकाे सिलसिलामा भारत पुगेका नेपाली दशैँ मान्न घर फर्किन थाले". देशसञ्चार. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  39. ^ "परदेशिएको दशकौँ पछि म्यानमारका नेपालीले दशैँ मान्ने चलन कसरी कायम राखेका छन्". BBC News नेपाली. Archived from the original on 17 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  40. ^ Criveller, Gianni. "NEPAL Buddhists and animal rights activists against animal slaughter for Durga - Asia News". Asianews.it. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  41. ^ Bibek Bhandari (27 October 2014). "Animal rights activists want Nepal's sacrifice festival stopped | South China Morning Post". Scmp.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  42. ^ "NFC starts selling goats for Dashain". My Republica. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  43. ^ Haviland, Charles (19 October 2007). "Revulsion over Nepal animal slaughter". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
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  45. ^ "Dashain And Climate Change - It's Better to Stop Eating Meat". Wap Nepal. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  46. ^ "Debating Animal Cruelty During Nepal's Dashain Festival · Global Voices". Globalvoices.org. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 16 January 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  47. ^ "एउटा खसीको आत्मकथा" [Autobiography of a Goat]. Nepal Saptahik (in Nepali). Kantipur Publications. 3 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  48. ^ Hangen, Susan (January 2005). "Boycotting Dasain: history, memory and ethnic politics in Nepal". Studies in Nepali History and Society. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2017.

Books

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Media related to Dashain at Wikimedia Commons

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