Dashain, also known as Bijaya Dashami, is a major Hindu religious Nepali festival celebrated for fifteen days. It is the longest and the most significant festival in Nepali Calendar. It is also celebrated in several northeastern states of India and West Bengal. The day is also popular by the name Bada'dashain and is celebrated by Hindus of Nepal and elsewhere in the world, including among the Lhotshampa of Bhutan and the Burmese Gurkhas of Myanmar. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Bikram Sambat and Nepal Sambat annual calendars. The festival is celebrated for 15 days. However, the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth are the most important days. If you are looking for Dashain 2023 dates online, we at LatestLY have you covered. Scroll down to learn more about Dashain 2023 dates, puja vidhi and the significance of the auspicious festival. Phulpati 2023 Date and Significance: All About the Auspicious Festival of Nepal That Is Celebrated on the Seventh Day of Dashain.

Dashain 2023: Full Calendar

Day 1 – Ghatasthapana- October 15

Day 7 – Phulpati- October 21

Day 8 - Maha Ashtami or Durga Ashtami- October 22

Day 9 - Maha Navami or Durga Navami- October 23

Day 10 - Vijaya Dashami or Bijaya Dashami- October 24

Day 15 - Kojagrat Purnima- October 28

Dashain Puja Rituals

  1. The Ghatasthapana day is the most important day of the Dashain festival as it marks the beginning of Dashain. It is also known as the Sowing Jamara Day.

  2. On this day, a Kalash is installed in the Puja room, which symbolises Goddess Durga. It is filled with holy water, covered with cow dung and sewn with barley and other grain seeds.

  3. The Kalash is put in the Puja room at the centre of a rectangle sand block. These seeds sprout and grow into yellow grass in the next ten days. This sacred grass is known as Jamara. Nepal: Flowers Palanquin Arrives in Kathmandu During Fortnightly Festival of Dashain.

  4. Vijaya Dashami is also the most significant day during the 15-day Dashain festivity. Vijaya Dashami Tika is performed on the very same day when elders put Tika and Jamara on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with abundance. This ceremony continues for the next five days till Kojagrat Purnima.

Dashain Significance

Dashain is a famous Nepali festival and holds great significance in Nepal’s culture and traditions. The word Dashain is derived from the Sanskrit word 'dasami', denoting the 10th day of the Kaula (month). The festival is also referred to 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, Dussehra or Dashera in India, although rites and rituals vary significantly in different regions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 22, 2023 02:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).