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 .
Hello everyone! Today, I’m excited to share with you a super simple and delicious recipe using just potatoes and some spices. It’s perfect for those days when your pantry is running low. Let’s get started!
Ingredients:
• Potatoes : 1/2 kg • Turmeric powder : 1/2 teaspoon • Chili powder : 1 teaspoon • Cumin seeds : 1/2 teaspoon • Chili flakes : 1 teaspoon • Oil : 2 teaspoons • Water : as required
First, we’ll start by boiling the potatoes. I like to use a pressure cooker for this, but you can use any method you prefer. Make sure the potatoes are not overcooked.
Once the potatoes are boiled, peel and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Now, let’s make a spice paste. In a bowl, add some turmeric powder and chili powder. Add a little water and mix well to form a paste. Set this aside.
Next, take a pan and heat some oil. When the oil is hot, add some cumin seeds and chili flakes. Wait until they turn brown.
Now, add the spice paste we made earlier and fry for a few minutes.
Add the boiled potatoes and mix everything well. Cover the pan and let it cook for a few minutes so all the spices blend perfectly.
And there you have it! Our delicious Piro Jeera Aloo is ready. Enjoy it with rice, Chiura (beaten rice), or roti.
Thank you for joining me today. I hope you try this recipe and love it as much as I do. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more delicious recipes. See you next time
This Easter long weekend, we didn’t go away anywhere. Instead we made some plans with our friends and it was quite fun.
One day we took the kids to the Easter show.
It was a free event in Cronulla and there were the traditional rides, show bags, an animal farm, market stalls and roving entertainment.
We went on a big slide with the kids on our laps and kids enjoy the elephant merry – go-around as well. They also went into a jumping castle and had heaps of fun.
Chhori and her friend loved getting their face painted and they both looked adorable for sure.
But like every year the highlight for me was the petting zoo. They had alpacas, sheep, chicken, ducks, pigs, goat, rabbits and a calf. It was amazing to see the kids enjoy the animals and pat them too.
We also bought them the bubble guns and it was a hit as they could have hundreds of bubbles instantly.
Overall it was an amazing day out for the parents as well as for the kids.
Another day we took the kids to the park and they had a great time. We had lunch from a nearby café while the kids play at the park.
But the highlight of the Easter long weekend was the food. We planned a food marathon so we had something special for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
On the Friday we went to a sea food buffet and it was really great and we ate a lot. I loved the prawns and the amazing dessert.
Then on Saturday, it started with my scones for breakfast and amazing garlic prawn and chicken paella for dinner.
The next day we had gwaramari for breakfast and typical Nepali thakali thali for dinner.
We tried to make it as close as possible to the famous thakali thali and it contained rice, dal, gundruk ko achar, mula ko achar, chicken curry, saag (spinach) and mushroom curry. The whole combination tasted amazing.
On the third day it was pancakes for breakfast, chatamari and pakauda for lunch and nepali dal-bhaat-tarkari-masu for dinner.
The food was amazing and it didn’t feel like a lot of effort as different people were doing different dishes. But I have to admit, I put on at least a kilo after eating all that food.
I will share the recipes for a few of the dishes soon. Most of them are already on my blog so please do try them and let me know how it goes.
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 .
nepaliaustralian 