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 .
Another year has gone by so quickly and our dear Chhori is turning 4 today.
Dear Chhori,
The day you were born was the greatest moment of our life. We never knew we could love something so tiny so much, but the day you came into our life we were overwhelmed by all the love we had for you.
Watching you grow up has been such a joy, and we know that only greatness lies ahead for you. May your birthday be just as spectacular as you are.
As I mentioned before in my post, we had Chhori’s birthday celebration in Nepali way and at her childcare. But we also decided to throw a small party for her. We thought it would be nice to celebrate her birthday among our friends and family.
Now she is at that stage that she understands the celebration and so she was looking forward to her Peppa themed birthday party. She would go around telling everyone who would listen, that she is turning 3 and she will have a Peppa themed birthday party.
We also decided to hire a professional photographer to capture the memories on that day and I am glad we did.
We did some family photo shoot before the party.
I had a table decorated with everything Peppa.
The table was full with lollies, juices, biscuits, cupcake and goodie bag. Chhori was super excited so see all the arrangements.
Around noon, guests started to arrive. When most of the guest was in, we served lunch.
It was followed by cake cutting, yes, a Peppa one.
To make the things fun, I had a few games planned for the kids and the parents as well.
We did the egg and spoon race, balloon race and bingo. We had so much fun as everyone laughed and enjoyed the day.
The day ended with bubbles all over the park. We had bought bubble wands and as the day was slightly windy, it was so easy to make a lot of bubble.
Overall we had a great celebration and Chhori was over the moon with all the attention, gifts and Peppa around.
As I have mentioned before, we do not follow the Gregorian calendar so on the Nepali Calendar we have birthdays on different days every year depending on the position of sun, moon and planets. So we celebrated Chhori’s Tithi birthday in traditional Nepali manner with puja and sagun.
Luckily it was a weekend so I had enough time to prepare and wasn’t too rushed.
I wore a tradition sari and Chhori wore a lehenga. She was so excited that she was turning 3 that she had been telling everyone she met that she is going to be 3 soon. It was cute to see her excited about her birthday.
Once everything was prepared, Chhori sat down and I started the pooja.
I started the pooja for Lord Ganesh and then pooja for to Chhori. I explained to her everything I was doing and she listened and followed the instructions. She didn’t complain or try to get up from her place for the whole time and I am super proud of her.
She got the sagun and gifts and she was so happy.
I am hoping our effort to show Chhori our culture and tradition will help her understand where her roots are and how amazing and rich Nepali culture is.
I made a small pink birthday cake to cut that day as I didn’t want her to have a birthday celebration without a cake 🙂
On her birthday according to the Gregorian calendar, I baked a cake and took it to her childcare. When she saw me with the cake she was so excited and started to show the cake to her friends.
The teachers had arranged the table for us to celebrate her birthday. She sat with her friends when we sang the birthday song for her and then cut the cake.
As childcare has a policy of no nuts and no chocolate I had made a simple vanilla sponge cake with fondant and it turned out OK.
If you are a parent, kid’s birthdays are so special and I hope Chhori will have a special one every year.
nepaliaustralian 