Dashain, the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar
September 30, 2008
Dashain, the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by the Nepalis of all caste and creed is being observed throughout the country on Tuesday.
The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon.
Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons.
The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room.
The Ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.
On the Ghatasthapana, literally means pot establishing, people sow seeds of `Jamara’ that includes shoots of rice, maize and barley on earthen pots covered with cow dung and soil mixed with sand brought from the holy rivers in their prayer room called ‘Dashain Ghar’. Read more
