Dashain
Dashain ( Daśãi, Nepal or Baḍādaśãi बडादशैँ), also Bijayā Daśamī ) is a festival of Nepal. Durga Puja (Nepali : दुर्गा पुजा or Dashain is also celebrated in some parts of India where it is called Dashera.[3]. It is celebrated by the Hindus, Buddhists and Kirats of Nepal and the ethnic Nepali/Gorkha people of Darjeeling hills, Sikkim, Assam and other North-Eastern states of India[4] and among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan[5] and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar.
Dashain
Also called
Bijaya Dasami
Observed by
Nepali Hindus, Nepali Buddhist
Type
Religious, Cultural
Significance
Celebrates the victory of good over evil
Celebrations
Marks the end of Durga Puja
Observances
pandals (stages), plays, community gathering, recitation of scriptures, immersion of Durga or burning of Ravana
Date
Ashvin or Kartik (September or October)
2017 date
30 Sep, Sat[1]
2018 date
19 October, Fri
It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendar, celebrated by Hindu Nepalese people, along with their diaspora throughout the globe. It is the most anticipated festival in Nepal, Bhutan, Burma and North Indian hills. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.[4] All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period. The festival falls in September or October, starting from the shukla paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashwin and ending on Purnima, the full moon. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth and the fifteenth.[6]
Among the Newa of the Nepal mandal Kathmandu valley Dashain is celebrated as the most important festival of Nepal Sambat calendar year.[7] Among the Hindus and Buddhist Newars, it is celebrated with slight differences and interpretations, where each nine days Navaratri (Nepal Bhasa: नवरात्री) leading up to the 10th day called 'Dashami' carry special importance.[8] The goddess Durga and her various manifestations are especially worshiped by Hindu Newars throughout the Shaktipeeths of Kathmandu Valley. Among Newars, Mwohni is also important for its emphasis on family gatherings as well as on a renewal of community ties, highlighted by special family dinners called Nakhtyā (Nepal Bhasa: नख्त्या) and various community processions of deities called Jātrā (Nepal Bhasa: जात्रा) throughout the three royal cities of Kathmandu Valley
