Dashain Tihar Festival: Nepal’s Grandest Celebrations

Nepal is rich in cultural heritage and traditions; festivals are vital in people’s lives. Among all the festivals celebrated, Dashain Tihar Festivals stand out as the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in Nepal. These two major Hindu festivals bring joy, family reunions, and spiritual devotion, making them an essential part of Nepalese culture. Dashain Tihar Festivals represents victory, gratitude, and the harmony between humans, gods, and nature.

The Festival of Victory

Dashain, also known as Vijaya Dashami, is the longest and most significant Hindu festival in Nepal. Celebrated for 15 days in the month of Ashwin (September–October), Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It honors Goddess Durga, who triumphed over the demon Mahishasura after a nine-day battle. Dashain is a time of family gatherings, worship, and feasting.

Major Rituals of Dashain

1. Ghatasthapana – The festival begins with Ghatasthapana, as people place a sacred vessel in a prayer room and plant barley seeds (Jamara) in sand. Devotees worship this pot, which symbolizes Goddess Durga.
2. Nava Ratri (Nine Nights of Worship) – During the first nine days of Dashain, devotees honor different forms of Goddess Durga. They visit temples, offer prayers, and seek blessings.
3. Phulpati – On the seventh day, people bring sacred flowers and Jamara from Gorkha to Kathmandu, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.
4. Maha Ashtami and Nawami – These are the most significant days of the festival, marked by sacrifices and offerings to Goddess Durga. Devotees sacrifice buffaloes, goats, and ducks in various temples.
5. Vijaya Dashami – The most important day, Vijaya Dashami, involves elders applying Tika (a mixture of yogurt, rice, and vermillion) and Jamara to younger family members, blessing them for prosperity and happiness.
6. Kojagrat Purnima – The festival concludes on the full moon day, where people stay awake, believing Goddess Laxmi blesses those who remain vigilant.

Dashain Festivities and Traditions

During Dashain, Nepalese families clean and decorate their homes, buy new clothes, and prepare delicious feasts. Children fly kites, people play traditional swings (ping), and families indulge in card games. Goat meat (Khasi ko Masu), Sel Roti, and various sweets are prepared to celebrate this grand festival. Dashain brings economic prosperity, as businesses see a boom in sales, and workers receive bonuses and holidays.

Tihar: The Festival of Lights

Following Dashain, Nepal celebrates Tihar, also known as Deepawali. Tihar is a five-day festival that worships different animals, nature, and Goddess Laxmi, the deity of wealth. The festival takes place in the month of Kartik (October–November) and enhances the bond between humans, gods, and nature.

The temples worshiped during the Dashain Tihar Festivals

Temples visited during Dashain

1. Dakshinkali Temple (Pharping, Kathmandu)

   • Dedicated to Goddess Kali, this temple is one of the most important during Dashain.
   • Animal sacrifices are performed as offerings to the goddess.

2. Guhyeshwari Temple (Pashupati area, Kathmandu)

   • A Shakti Peeth dedicated to Goddess Parvati (Shakti).
   • Devotees offer puja to seek blessings for power and protection.

3. Naxal Bhagwati Temple (Kathmandu)

   • Devotees worship Bhagwati (a form of Durga) for victory, strength, and protection.

4. Maitidevi Temple (Kathmandu)

   • located in the center of Kathmandu valley, one of the powerful temples dedicated to the goddess Durga.
   • Many devotees visit here for Dashain blessings.

5. Shobha Bhagwati Temple (Kathmandu)

   • Worshippers come here to offer prayers, especially on the 8th and 9th day of Dashain.

6. Manakamana Temple (Gorkha)

   • Considered a wish-fulfilling goddess, people from all over Nepal visit to seek blessings.
   • Many families go before or after Dashain.

7. Baglung Kalika Temple (Baglung)

   • A famous temple where thousands of devotees go during Dashain, especially for animal sacrifices.

8. Bindhyabasini Temple (Pokhara)

   • Worshippers visit this temple dedicated to Durga for protection and prosperity.

Temples Visited During Tihar

Tihar is more about worshiping crows, dogs, oxen, and Goddess Laxmi. The following temples are popular during this festival:

1. Pashupatinath Temple (Kathmandu)

   • Many devotees visit Pashupatinath temple to offer prayers, especially on Kukur Tihar (Dog Day) and Gai Tihar (Cow Day).

2. Laxmi Narayan Temple 

   • Dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, as Tihar’s most important day (Laxmi Puja) is celebrated by worshiping her.

3. Dattatreya Temple (Bhaktapur)

   • Devotees visit this temple during Tihar, as it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, closely associated with Goddess Laxmi.

4. Sankata Temple

   • Worshipers visit this temple to pray for good fortune and protection during Tihar.

5. Bajrayogini Temple (Sankhu, Kathmandu)

   • Many people visit to offer prayers for good health and prosperity during Tihar.

6. Kankeshwari Temple 

   • A temple of Kankeshwari Devi, a form of Durga, also visited during Tihar.

7. Budhanilkantha Temple 

   • Devotees visit this Vishnu temple, as Laxmi Puja is associated with Lord Vishnu as well.

Five Days of Tihar Celebration

1. Kag Tihar (Crow Puja) – On the first day, people honor crows, regarded as messengers of Yama, the god of death. They offer food to crows to ward off misfortune.

   Kukur Tihar (Dog Puja) – On the second day, people celebrate dogs, believed to be the gatekeepers of the afterlife. They adorn dogs with Tika and garlands and offer them delicious food.

   Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja – On the third day, people worship cows for their economic significance and honor Goddess Laxmi. They decorate homes and businesses with oil lamps and rangoli to invite Laxmi’s blessings.

   Gobardhan Puja and Mha Puja – On the fourth day, people worship oxen and perform Govardhan Puja. The Newar community celebrates Mha Puja, where individuals worship themselves for well-being.

   Bhai Tika (Brother-Sister Bond) – On the final day, sisters apply Tika on their brothers’ foreheads, offer sweets, and pray for their long life and prosperity, strengthening their bond.

Dashain Tihar Festivals in Kathmandu

• Dashain Tihar festivals is Nepal’s biggest festival, and a large number of people from Kathmandu travel back to their hometowns and villages to celebrate with their families.
• The city becomes much quieter as offices, schools, and businesses remain closed for several days.
• Many government and private sector employees take long holidays, leading to a mass exodus.
• Transportation is heavily booked, with buses, microbuses, and flights to rural areas operating at full capacity.
• Temporary bus stations are set up to manage the rush, and ticket prices often increase due to high demand.

Tihar’s Festive Spirit

Tihar is a festival of lights, where houses glow with oil lamps, candles, and electric decorations. People play Deusi Bhailo, singing and dancing from house to house while collecting money and blessings. Firecrackers, delicious food, and traditional celebrations make Tihar a joyous occasion. Sel Roti, Anarsa, and sweet delicacies are specially prepared during this time.

Cultural and Social Significance of Dashain Tihar Festivals

Dashain Tihar Festivals is more than just religious celebrations; it is a time for unity, harmony, and gratitude. Families reunite, feasts are shared, and communities come together. These festivals also promote cultural preservation and economic growth, as businesses thrive during this period. The spiritual aspect of these celebrations highlights respect for nature, ancestors, and divine forces, strengthening social bonds.

During the Dashain Tihar festivals, people who work outside their home villages or abroad return to their hometowns to celebrate with family and friends. These festivals hold great cultural and religious significance in Nepal, making them a time of joy, togetherness, and reunion. Families gather to receive blessings from elders, perform traditional rituals, and enjoy delicious festive meals. The homecoming of loved ones strengthens family bonds and revives cultural traditions. Villages become lively with music, dance, and celebrations.

People also go shopping and buy new clothes to wear during the festival. Markets and shops are filled with festive crowds, as families purchase gifts, decorations, and special food items. Wearing new clothes during Dashain Tihar festivals symbolizes prosperity and happiness. This festive season fosters unity, love, and the preservation of Nepalese heritage, making it the most awaited time of the year.

Conclusion

Dashain Tihar Festivals is the heart of Nepalese tradition, bringing joy, devotion, and togetherness. Whether it is the victorious spirit of Dashain or the illuminating charm of Tihar, these festivals create a vibrant atmosphere across Nepal. Tourists visiting Nepal during this season can witness grand celebrations, cultural performances, and a warm festive spirit. Nepal Wilderness Trekking Pvt. Ltd. welcomes travelers to experience the beauty of Dashain Tihar Festivals, where tradition and celebration blend into an unforgettable cultural journey. But the Buddhist religion visit the Boudha Stupa, Swayambhunath and other monastries to offer lamp for all the  animals that were being sacrified to the temple or for the celebration of the festivals.