The last few days have been a whirlwind of fun, family, and festivities as we’ve been busy celebrating Dashain, one of the most cherished festivals in our culture. It’s always a time of togetherness, where we come together with friends and family to share joy, laughter, and of course, delicious food!
From Tika and Jamara to playing cards and eating delicious food, the spirit of Dashain has been in full swing. We’ve enjoyed the beautiful rituals, reconnected with family, and created unforgettable memories. Here are some glimpses of our celebrations – filled with love, blessings, and happiness.
Dashain is here! The air is filled with excitement, nostalgia, and the promise of family gatherings, food, and festivities. Yesterday marked Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain, which sets the tone for the next 15 days of celebration. In households across Nepal—and for Nepali communities around the globe—this day is sacred. It’s the day we plant Jamara, those sprouting yellow-green shoots that symbolize prosperity and blessings.
But what makes Dashain so special?
For starters, it’s not just any festival. Dashain is Nepal’s biggest and longest Hindu festival, celebrated for 15 glorious days of tradition, reunions, and cultural pride. From Ghatasthapana to the grand finale on Vijaya Dashami, it’s a time when families gather, share meals, exchange blessings, and honour the victory of good over evil.
So, if you’re new to Dashain or just looking to rekindle that festive spirit, here’s a peek into why we cherish this time of year!
The Legends Behind Dashain: Why It’s More Than Just a Festival
Dashain is steeped in legends and Hindu mythology. According to one tale, it’s the story of Ram—the hero who defeated the demon king Ravana after nine days of prayer and worshipping Goddess Durga. The tenth day, Dashami, marks Ram’s victory, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Another tale revolves around Mahishasura, the fearsome demon who terrorized both Earth and Heaven. The gods created Durga, the powerful goddess who battled Mahishasura for nine long days. On the tenth day, Durga slew the demon, marking the day of victory—Vijaya Dashami.
These stories remind us that no matter how challenging life gets, good will always prevail. And that’s why we place tika (a red vermilion paste mixed with rice and yogurt) on our foreheads during Dashain—it’s a blessing for victory, strength, and resilience in the coming year.
Day 1: Ghatasthapana – Planting Jamara, Growing Prosperity
Ghatasthapana (literally meaning “pot establishment”) marks the official start of Dashain. This is the day we plant Jamara—the sacred barley seeds that we lovingly water and nurture for the next ten days. These delicate sprouts will grow to represent blessings, and we use them on Vijaya Dashami for the tika ceremony.
I planted my Jamara yesterday. It’s always a special moment for me—preparing the soil, sowing the seeds, and knowing that in 10 days, those golden-green shoots will be ready for the most important ritual of Dashain. I can’t wait to see how well they grow this year!
Dashain Activities: Where Tradition Meets Fun
What makes Dashain feel so magical is the blend of deep-rooted traditions with simple pleasures. Here are some of the most exciting things we look forward to every Dashain:
1. Kite Flying
As soon as Dashain kicks off, the skies in Nepal fill with colorful kites—each one carrying the message that the monsoon season is over. I have fond memories of rooftop kite battles with my brothers, shouting “Changa Chet!” (which means “kite cut!”) every time we managed to down someone else’s kite. It’s a playful battle that I miss every year.
2. Family Card Games
I can’t talk about Dashain without mentioning the card games! Even though gambling is technically illegal in Nepal, Dashain is an exception. Families gather around with cards, placing small bets (or just playing for fun!). I used to love sneaking into the grown-ups’ game as a kid, hoping to win a few coins.
3. Shopping for New Clothes
Dashain is the time for new clothes! For many families, this is the only time of the year when they can afford new outfits. Shops across Nepal offer crazy discounts, and it’s a rush of excitement as everyone prepares for the festival. I treated myself to a new dress this weekend—because who doesn’t love a reason to shop, right?
4. Bamboo Swings (Ping)
In the countryside, you’ll find bamboo swings constructed just before Dashain. These aren’t your average playground swings either—they’re towering structures that often go 20 feet high! Swinging on a ping is a thrill, and for many, it’s a must-do every year.
The Sweet Chaos: Fairs, Concerts, and Food!
Dashain isn’t just about rituals; it’s also about fun and celebration! Throughout Nepal, you’ll find fairs, concerts, and dashain melas (markets) popping up in towns and cities. These events bring people together for a bit of light-hearted fun—think Ferris wheels, local snacks, and live performances.
And then there’s the food! The streets fill with the smell of fried treats, freshly made sel roti (a traditional rice doughnut), and crispy chatpate (Nepal’s beloved street food). It’s the time to indulge, because Dashain only comes once a year!
Happy Dashain, everyone!
Here are the posts I have written regarding Dashian over the years .
Today, 21st September is Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain and in Sydney the celebration has already started. Last Saturday, like every year, Guthi Australia organised a free event to celebrate the Dashain in the Rockdale Bicentenary Park.
They have been organising this event for the last few years and I really like it as it is a perfect place to catch up with friends and family. They try to bring the Dashain vibe to Sydney as much as possible by organising lots of cultural and traditional programs during this auspicious time of the year.
We went there around lunch time and headed straight to food stalls. We had momos and Sel roti.
As we sat to eat, we started encountering many friends and family. After the quick bite, we went and tried out our hand at flying a kite.
My attempt was unsuccessful with my nephew as it didn’t go very high but there were some pro kite flyers who were doing a really good job.
The main highlights of the event for me were the Rath (Charito), Kumari, Lakhe dance, Pulu kisi and colourful kites in the sky.
There was a little girl dresses up as Kumari, the only living Goddess in the world worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal.
We also enjoyed the Lakhe dance and the Pulu kisi (elephant) dance.
Lakhe is a demon in Nepalese folklore with a ferocious face with protruding fangs and mane of red or black hair, who protects the people.
Pulu Kisi is believed to be the carrier of Indra himself. People view the masked creature with a roar of excitement and laughter. From time to time it does naughty and mischievous things by running through the street knocking anyone that comes in its path and swinging its tail.
Chhori had a great time as well running around, playing on the swing in the park and enjoying the food. We had a great time mingling with friends and family .
Wishing you all a very Happy Dashain!!!
Here are the posts I have written regarding Dashian over the years .
The biggest festival for Nepalese, Dashain, started from 1st October and we had a great start to the festival.
This year it is really special for us as I have my parents here and this will be the first time Chhori can have Dashain Tika as we couldn’t celebrate last year.
On Saturday, it was Gathasthapana, the day we plant Jamara. That day in Sydney, we also had another event to attend, the Kite festival organised by Guthi Australia.
They have been organising this event for the last few years and I really like it. They try to bring the Dashain vibe from Nepal to Sydney as much as possible by organising lots of cultural and traditional things during the gathering.
The function was held in the Rockdale Bicentenary Park and the entry was free.
The main highlights of the event for me was the Rath (Charito), Kumari, Lakhe and colourful kites in the sky.
The Rath was done better than last year. It was a smaller version of the Rath in Nepal but it was great for kids to understand what the Rath looks like and they were allowed to pull them around the ground as well.
There was a little girl dresses up as Kumari , only living Goddess in the world worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal.
Lakhe is a demon in Nepalese folklore with a ferocious face with protruding fangs and mane of red or black hair.
They had an energised Lakhe dancing to traditional music.
If you are in Kathmandu during Dashain, the sky will be full of kites of different colours and we got to see some of that on the day as well.
Little girls performing in traditional music was amazing and so was the fashion show and concert.
There were many stalls for Tradtional handicrafts and Food stalls. Of course we enjoyed our evergreen momo.
Chhori had a great time as well running around, playing on the swing in the park and enjoying the food.
She was spoiled by all of our friends and relatives as usual.
I am really glad these types of events happen in Sydney. As you all know I love my traditions and culture and I want Chhori to see, learn and know our culture too. These kind of organised events definitely will help me educate Chhori and hopefully develop her interest in Nepali traditions and culture in future.
Wishing you all a very Happy Dashain!!!
Here are the posts I have written regarding Dashian over the years .
Before I left for Kathmandu, I went for an evening out with some of my friends to celebrate my last few days of being a Bachelorette. I didn’t want something that could go out of control so we decided just to go out for dinner and drinks.
I went and bought a nice designer dress for the occasion, a pleated blue dress. All my friends wore black. We also bought a sash with a “Bride to be” written on it and badges for everyone with “Warning, Hen Party Member”. We picked a Spanish restaurant where they have dance in the evening.
We started the night with a drink, Sangria. It was amazing and the drinks just kept coming. Sangria normally consists of wine, chopped fruit, a sweetener, and a small amount of added brandy. It was followed by awesome tapas dinner.
As soon as we finished the dinner, the fun started. There were songs and dancing and they were teaching us how to dance as well. Being the bride to be that day, they took me on to the stage and taught me some steps. It was great a experience with lots of laughter and miss steps. I am sure by that time I was slightly tipsy as well. I hardly drink which means even just a few drinks makes me easily drunk.
All of us had good fun in the restaurant but we decided to leave the place to go to pub. It was Saturday night so the pub was really full. Good music was on the speakers so we went straight to the dance floor and grooved. We had a few shots of tequila but rest of the evening we were on the dance floor.
Around close to midnight, all of us were tired so we decided to call it a night.
Overall we had a great night out with the gals and the celebration of the last few days of my freedom.
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