Biggest Festival in Nepal Vijaya Dashami

Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain, Biggest Festival in Nepal. It is also the longest and the most celebrated festival in Nepal. It is celebrated for about 15 days among Nepalese with a lot of excitement. Vijaya Dashami is celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil.

When is Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain celebrated?

f victory of good over evil. Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain is celebrated on the tenth day from the start day, Ghatsthapna. It usually falls on Ashwin month as pergregorian calendar. I.e. September or October.

Why is Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain celebrated?

Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain is celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil. There are a lot of stories on why Dashain is celebrated. Hundreds of years ago, Demons became very powerful. They wanted to take over heaven and tried to defeat the Gods. One of the deamons called Mahisasur, in the form of a bull grew stronger and became powerful. As the demons started to defeat Gods, the world was crushed under Mahishasur’s cruelty. Therefore, all the gods put their energy together and formed a single mass of incandescent energy to kill Mahisahsur.

Thereupon, a powerful band of lightning emerged from the mouths of three most powerful gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and a virgin appeared. These three gods gave her a powerful weapon which then blended to form Goddess Durga. She rode on a Lion, and fought Mahishasur. This battle continued for nine days and nights. Finally, on the tenth day, Mahishasur was defeated and killed by the Goddess Durga.

Killing Maishasure, who was going to destroy everything and wanted to take over heaven, was the act of ending the evil, and did good for earth and the gods. Therefore, it smbolized victory over evil.

How is Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain celebrated?

Vijaya Dashami or Bada Dashain starts from Ghatsthapna and the prayer room is a setup continuing the same ritual for ten days to celebrate Dashain. The barley and sesame seeds planted on the first day would sprout and be ready for a good harvest. This plant is called Jamara. Red colored rice mixed with yougert (tika) would be put on everybody’s forehead along with jamara on the crown of everyone’s head. Usually, the oldest in the family give tika and jamara to the younger ones and receive blessings.

What are the days of Dashain?

Dashain has 15 days celebration, however, following days are regarded as the main days.

Day 1- Ghatsthapna

Day 7- Fulpathi (Saptami)

Day 8- Maha Asthami

Day 9- Maha Nawami

Day 10- Vijaya Dashami

Day 11- Ekadashi

Day 15- Kojagrat Purnima.

What does the Dashain Blessing Mantra Mean?

Most Common Vijaya Dashami Blessing Mantra while putting Tika and Jamara

This Dashain mantra is generally while putting a tika on a female member of the family. Mantra

Om Jayanti Mangala Kaali Bhadra Kali Kapalini

Durga Kshyama shiva dhatri swaha swadha namostu te

ॐ जयन्ती मङ्गला काली भद्रकाली कपालिनी ।

दुर्गा क्ष्यमा शिवा धात्री स्वहा स्वधा नमोस्तु ते ।।

This mantra is chanted while putting a tika to male members of the family.

Ayur Drona sute sriyem Dasarathe, Satruk ksheyam Raghave,

Yaishoryem Nahushe, Gatischa pawane, Manancha Duryodhane,

Suaryam Shanta nave, Balam Haldhare, Satyaschha Kuntisute,

Bigyanam Bidure, Bhawanu Bhabatam, Kirtischha Narayane!

आयुर द्रोण सुते श्रेयम दशरथे , सत्रुक क्षेयम रघवे,

ऐश्र्वर्यम नहुशे , गतिस्च पवने, मानन्च दुर्योधने,

सौर्यम शान्त नवे, बलम हलधरे , सत्यस्च कुन्तीसुते ,

बिज्ञ।न बिदुरे, भवन्तु भबताम, किर्तिस्च नारायणे!

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