Symbolism of Dashain
Upon hearing Dashain people envision a long holiday where people rejoice in flying kites, wearing new clothes, eating good food, and exchanging kind greetings with loved ones. The most powerful symbolic message is the celebration of the victory of truth and virtue against injustice. This auspicious festival starts with Ghatasthapana where people fill a vessel to the brim with sand. Then they sow barley seeds and maize while covering it in a pitch black room and worshipping it for 10 days.
Similarly, on the seventh day, Phulpati is observed in the form of Saptami and is commemorated by an official ceremony held in Dhulikhel. After that, the Fulpati parade is taken to the residence of the president of Nepal as he’s a leader of the country. Followed by the eighth day, Maha Asthami is devoted to the name of Goddess Kali, who is a manifestation of Goddess Durga. To appease the fiery rage of Kali, people tend to sacrifice hens, goats, and buffaloes in temples. Now comes the ninth day of Dashain Mahanavami where we remember Lord Vishwakarma who is famously known as the divine creator of the world. People spent their day worshiping their tools, equipment, and vehicles. Another value of this important day is the opening of Taleju Temple. Its gates are open to the public only on Mahanavami.
Commonly, it’s considered to be a nine-day festival and is called Nauratha or Navaratri. During this time, we dedicate our time to worshipping many avatars of Goddess Durga like Brahmacharini, Shailputri, Kushmanda, Chandraghanta, Katyayani, Skandamata, Siddhidatri, and Mahagauri. On the tenth day, to mark the end of the ritual, people distribute Prasad as sweets and Jamara. Not to forget the most exciting part for children, elders bless them with Dakshina (money). It symbolizes blessings passed down from one generation to another. To give the exact timeline, the tradition of receiving Tika and Prasad starts from Ashwin Shukladashami and ends on Ashwin Shuklapoornim.
The fifteenth day is the last of this festival and falls on a full moon day. Preserving the historical ethos of the vibrant festival, it concludes after staying awake for the whole night and following various proceedings in the name of Mahalaxmi. This night is popularly called Kojagrat Purnima. The actual meaning of Kojagrata is someone ‘who is awake.’ There’s a common belief that Goddess Lakshmi visits earth and she keeps tabs on people who stayed awake to worship her. She brings prosperity and luck to people who prove their unyielding commitment.
However, there are some superstitious elements at play during this season as well. Animal sacrifices are done in the name of the weapon, Maulo, and Kotpuja. Although this practice has been notably reduced, they are still apparent in some typical Nepalese neighborhood. Our values should lie in the fact that saving the lives of harmless creatures should be done even if the tradition says otherwise.
Overall, the Dashain festival represents Nepal as being rich in cultural diversity. The Malshree dhun is integrated as a piece of mainstream Nepalese music and represents the tune of Dashain. Since the start of Nauratha, the pleasant melodies of Mohalibaja, Fluit, Dhime, and Jhyamtebaja denotes the arrival of our most awaited festival.
Also, the appealing weather with warm and lovely sunrays in the daytime and foggy mornings make the festival even more joyous. It falls under the perfect time, the ending of the rainy season, and the beginning of the winter season.
The elements of bonding and family reunion make Dashain a valuable and memorable time for all. Other key aspect includes bonding, elder’s blessings, family reunion, and entertainment making it a heartwarming time spent with loved ones.