Dashain
Dashain or Bada'dashain, also referred 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. The festival is also referred as Nauratha, derived from the Sanskrit word for the same festival Navaratri which translates to Nine Nights. A version of this festival is celebrated as Navaratri, Navaratri is not exactly the same as Dashain. Most Americans call it Dussehra or Dashera by Hindus in India, although rites and rituals vary significantly.
| Dashain | |
|---|---|
Goddess Durga (pictured) slayed the demon Mahishasura on this day | |
| Official name | बडादसैँ |
| Also called | Bijaya Dashami, Nauratha |
| Observed by | Nepalese and Indian Gorkha Hindus and Buddhists |
| Type | Religious, Cultural |
| Significance | A festival commemorate the victory of good over evil |
| Celebrations | Marks the end of Durga Puja |
| Observances | Worshipping various forms of Durga, visiting Shakti Pithas and pandals, organizing plays, visiting relatives, feasts, community gathering, recitation of scriptures, immersion of the idol Durga or burning of Ravana. |
| Date | Ashvin or Kartika (September to November) |
| 2023 date | 15th October 2023, Sunday to 28th October 2023, Saturday |
| Related to | Vijaya Dashami |
It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendars, celebrated by Nepali Hindus, along with their diaspora throughout the globe. In Nepal, it is also known as the biggest festival in the country and is the longest national/public holiday, lasting 15 days. It is the most anticipated festival in Nepal. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. 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 night) of the month of Ashvin and ending on Purnima, the full moon. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most celebrated days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and fifteenth. Dashain is the main festival of Hindus in Nepal.