Here comes Dashain…

Hello everyone!

The festival of Dashain(also known ad Bijaya Dasami) has arrived and will be celebrated over ten days.it is one of the biggest Hindu festivals celebrated  in Nepal and parts of India. In parts of India, it is called ‘Dussehra’ or ‘Navaratri’.  

Dashain symbolizes victory of good over evil and has the mythological story of how the goddess Durga defeated the evil demon king Mahisasur. As per the Hindu mythology, the demon Mahishasura had created terror in the devaloka(the world where gods live) but the avatar of  goddess Durga killed the rakshasa (demon) and brought peace. It is celebrated for 10days.The first nine days of Dashain symbolizes the battle which took place between the different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. The tenth day is the day when Durga finally defeated him. For Hindus, this festival  also symbolizes the victory of lord Rama over demon king Ravana (as recounted in the Ramayana).

Everyone has different perceptions about celebrating Dashain. Well for me Dashain is about family,friends,tradition and fun filled memories.I am going to talk about my dashain experience.It’s my 12th year of celebrating Dashain. My first Dashain was when I was about a month old and had celebrated dashain at my cousin’s house in Connecticut . I still have those old pictures of me. mostly sleeping of course. I have so many memories of Dashain like traveling to Nepal, meeting family,having family and friends over and so many parties. I remember going to the temple often during Dashain. My favorite part was the last day. Last year we had celebrated by dressing up,going to the temple, getting money and blessings in the form of red tika on the forehead and light green jamara on our head. Usually on the last day, we would go from house to house for dashain tika and get blessings and money at the end.  However, due to the pandemic, Dashain will be really different this year. I wonder  if Dashain will be fun this year because we cannot meet our family or friends.But I am grateful that I have my family to celebrate it. I pray to goddess Durga to stop this pandemic and bring peace. I am looking forward to celebrating this dashain safely.

 Today (10/17/20) is the first day of dashain, (Also known as Ghatasthapana )  it went off to a great start. We sprinkled Barley Grass seeds (Jamara) in a tray with soil and placed a small copper pot “Kalash” with a coconut over it. The Kalash represents goddess Durga. We welcomed Goddess to our house on this first day on Dashain. 

By day 10, the Barley Grass seeds will grow into small grass called jamara that will be used as a blessing on the last day. 

Fun Facts

• Jamara is placed  by the elders on top of the heads of those younger to them on the last day.
•  The Jamara is considered a blessing from the goddess Durga herself
• The tenth day of the festival is the Dashami. On this day, a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermilion is prepared. This preparation is known as Tika.This continues to be observed for five days till the full moon
• Before the collapse of the monarchy system in Nepal, thousands of people used to gather in the old royal palace to take the tika and blessings from the king who is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Now there is democracy in Nepal so this is not practiced anymore. 

• There are nine avatars of the goddess durga for 9 days of dashain and they are as followed 

• Goddess Shailputri 
• Goddess Brahmacharini 
• Goddess Chandraghanta
• Goddess Kushmanda
• Goddess Skandmata
• Goddess Katyayani
• Goddess Kaalratri
• Goddess Mahagauri
• Goddess Siddhidatri

Dashain is one of my most favorite hindu festivals I have ever celebrated and I still enjoy it to this day. Lastly, I personally feel that dashain symbolizes women power and victory of goodness. 

Happy Vijaya Dashami everyone and have a great day!

                 Here I share my favorite Durga mantra in sanskrit

                 Yaa Devi Sarva-Bhutessu Shakti-Ruupenna Samsthitaa |

Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namas-Tasyai Namo Namah ||

To that Devi Who in All Beings is Abiding in the Form of Power, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again.

Creds- Google, Wikipedia