Dashain, a Major Festival for Hindu Nepalis, Begins Today: Nepali Community in the USA Prepares for Celebrations

The 15-day festival of Dashain (also referred to as Bada’dashain or Vijaya Dashami), celebrated by Hindu Nepalis, commenced today, starting from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada—the first day of the waxing phase of the lunar month of Ashwin—and continuing until Ashwin Shukla Purnima, the full moon day of the same month. These two days mark the beginning and end of this important period in the Hindu lunar calendar. The Nepali community in the USA is also preparing for the festivities.

The Ridgewood Nepalese Society hosted the rituals of Ghatasthapana and Jamara (young barley shoots) planting at the Durga Temple and Nepali Cultural Center in Ridgewood, Queens, New York, today. The most common celebration begins on the first day of Navaratri with Ghatasthapana, which literally means “mounting of a jar.” On this day, households mount a copper or brass jar, filled with water, upon a small heap of rice kept on a wooden stool (pat). The jar is typically placed with other agricultural symbols such as a turmeric root, leaves of a mango tree, coconut, and major staple grains (usually eight varieties). A lamp is lit symbolizing knowledge and household prosperity and kept alight through the nine nights of Navaratri.

One of the central elements of Ghatasthapana is the planting of Jamara, young barley shoots, which hold deep symbolic significance in Dashain. Jamara is grown by sowing barley seeds in a pot filled with sand or soil, often sourced from a river, which is then covered with cow dung to promote growth. It is considered a sacred offering to Goddess Durga, and its yellowish-green shoots, symbolizing prosperity, are nurtured throughout the festival.

On the tenth day, Vijayadashami, the Jamara is offered to the deities during prayers and is later placed behind the ears or in the hair, along with the red tika (a mixture of rice, vermillion, and yogurt) on the forehead, as a blessing for good fortune, health, and success. It is particularly meaningful as it represents the blessings of the Goddess for victory over evil. This year, Dashain Tika in the U.S. will be observed on Saturday, October 12. The auspicious time for Vijayadashami in New York is 10:01 a.m., though tika may be offered throughout the day at one’s convenience.

Following Ghatasthapana, worship, offerings, and aarti dedicated to the Goddess were conducted at the Durga Temple, Ridgewood, Queens. During the nine days of Navratri, daily worship, offerings, and recitations of the Durga Saptashati will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Durga Temple, Ridgewood, Queens. Evening aarti and devotional singing (bhajans and kirtans) will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day.

Prof. Dr. Ramchandra Gautam, a theologian, notes that traditionally only barley is used for Jamara, although some mix in other grains. Jamara is also known to have Ayurvedic medicinal uses. Vijaya Dashain is also a time for family reunions, as people return home from various commitments to celebrate together.

Dashain or Bada’dashain, also referred to as Vijaya Dashami in Sanskrit, is a major Hindu religious festival in Nepal and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, South India, and Sri Lanka. It is also celebrated by Hindus of Nepal and elsewhere in the world, including among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar. A version of this festival is celebrated as Navaratri. However, Navaratri is not exactly the same as Dashain.

In 2023, Maryland became the first US state to recognize the Nepali festival Dashain as a commemorative day. Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed the Dashain Commemorative Day bill into law, making Maryland the first state in the US to officially recognize the festival. Governor Moore, the first Black Governor in Maryland’s history and the third African American elected Governor in the US, signed the bill which was introduced by Delegate Dr. Harry Bhandari.

The bill acknowledges that Dashain Day is a festival originating in Nepal that celebrates and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. The spiritual Sanskrit phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” emphasizes the belief that the world is one family.

During this festival, people offer prayers, perform traditional rituals, and feast on delicious food with family and friends. It is also a time for families to come together, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional music and dance. This is the longest and most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendars. It is also considered the largest national/public holiday in Nepal.

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