Dashain Vacation Homework

Hello! Everyone. It’s me Sachi Tamang. For the fulfillment of 10 marks we students of grade 8 section A and B both were assigned for a task in which we were told to post our experience about Dashain and Tihar separately in our blog. So, after the completion of our Dashain vacation I’m posting my Dashain experience. So, before starting my experience I would like to introduce our festival ‘Dashain’.

Introduction

Nepal is the land of festivals which is rich in culture and tradition. There several local festivals celebrated in particular place by particular caste or community. Local festivals are different than those of national festivals. National festival is celebrated throughout the country like Dashain, Tihar etc. Among them the Dashain is one.

Dashain is a fifteen-day-long national festival of Nepal, the Indian hill states of Sikkim, Assam and Darjeeling district and among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar.

It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people, along with their diasporas throughout the globe. It is the longest and most anticipated festival in Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and North Indian hills. 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.The festival falls in September or October, starting from the shukla paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashwin and ending on purnima, the full moon. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth.

Among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, Dashain is celebrated as the most important festival of the calendar year. Among the Hindus and Buddhist Newars, it is celebrated with slight differences and interpretations, where each nine days Navaratri leading up to the 10th day called 'Dashami' carry special importance. The goddess Durga and her various manifestations are especially worshiped by Hindu Newars throughout the Shaktipeeths of Kathmandu Valley. Among Newars, Mwohni is also important for its emphasis on family gatherings as well as on a renewal of community ties, highlighted by special family dinners called Nakhtyā and various community processions of deities called Jātrā throughout the three royal cities of Kathmandu Valley.

   Now let me start my experience.

Dashain experience

Now first of all the day comes of ghatasthapana. That day it was the first day of vacation after our Mid Terminal Examination. That day my grandparents planted barley seeds in a pot and Father told us that the pot should not be put into the direct sunlight and should be watered only by holy water and they should take care of it for six days so that it could grow into 5 to 6 inches long yellow grasses known as Jamara.

Next was Fulpati. Fulpati is a major celebration occurring on the seventh day of Dashain. That day we didn’t do anything but our grandparents were planning to bring some nine types of Phoolpati.

Next was Maha Asthami. That day we brought a hen and sacrifice it. I was disappointed that day because I don’t like killing any animals or birds.

Next was Maha Navami. The ninth day of Dashain. That day we worshipped the machine made by irons like cars, cycle etc. We also worshipped my father tools. ‘

Next was Vijaya Dashami. That day we woke up early in the morning and became ready to go to Mama’s house. That day we wore tika and got some moneys             (Dakchina) and we came home.

Our tika

After that day next day we went to village and that day we were exhausted and tired. So, that day we took rest and next day we played a lot. We stayed in village for 1 week. Then we returned next day.

This time I think my Dashain was bad because my health problem I was not able to eat some spicy, oily foods. I was not even allowed to drink cold drinks due to my sickness. So, This much for Dashain.