30th September 2025, Kathmandu
The annual celebration of Bada Dashain is the most significant festival for Nepalese Hindus, a vibrant tapestry of religious devotion, family reunion, and ancient rituals. Far more than just a public holiday, Dashain is an extended period of sacred worship focused on the Goddess Bhagawati.
Culture Expert Kirtinath Mishra
To understand its profound meaning, we delve into the insights of culture expert Kirtinath Mishra, who unpacks the historical context, the nuances of the Ashtanga Bali tradition, and the sacred offerings made over the fifteen days.
The Historical Mandate: Why We Celebrate Dashain
According to culture expert Kirtinath Mishra, the celebration of Bada Dashain is rooted in the Chandi scripture, specifically its thirteenth chapter.
The tradition stems from a direct command given by Goddess Bhagawati herself. After the defeat of powerful demons like Mahishasura, Chanda-Munda, and Shumbha-Nishumbha, the deities and humans gathered to praise her. It was then that the Goddess commanded: “I shall always be pleased if worshipped with offerings according to Tantric procedures during the autumn season (Sharad Ritu).” This divine instruction established the ritualistic worship that continues uninterrupted to this day.
Ghatasthapana and the Essential Role of Jamara
The festival officially begins with Ghatasthapana, marking the first day of Navaratri and the ceremonial invocation of the Goddess.
Vessel Placement: The ritual involves placing a Kalash (water vessel), sometimes a single one representing the nine goddesses, or nine separate ones, symbolizing their presence.
Jamara: Jamara (barley sprouts) is considered an essential and beloved item of the Goddess. Its use is mandatory throughout the festival. The sprouts, typically grown from barley (and sometimes mixed with corn), are considered both religiously significant and beneficial from a medicinal perspective.
Navaratri: Honoring the Nine Divine Forms
The nine days leading up to Dashami are dedicated to worshipping the nine different manifestations of Goddess Durga. Following tradition, a different form of the Goddess is honoured each day:
Shailaputri
Brahmacharini (Maheshwari)
Chandraghanta (Kumari)
Kushmanda (Bhadrakali)
Skandamata (Barahi)
Katyayani (Indrayani)
Kaalaratri (Mahakali)
Mahagauri (on Ashtami)
Siddhidatri (Tripurasundari) (on Navami)
On the tenth day, Dashami, all the deities are included in the Visarjan Puja (farewell ritual).
Daily Rituals: Offerings to the Goddess
A key tradition is the offering of specific, favourite foods to the Goddess on each day, often extending beyond Navaratri and into the post-Dashain period:
Day (Tithi) Offering to Bhagawati
Ghatasthapana (First Day) Ghee (Clarified Butter)
Second Day Sakhar (Jaggery)
Third Day Milk
Fourth Day (Chaturthi) Malpuwa (Sweet Pancake)
Fifth Day Banana
Sixth Day Honey
Seventh Day (Saptami) Chaku Sarai
Eighth Day (Ashtami) Haluwa Puri
Ninth Day (Navami) Kheer (Rice Pudding) and Lava
Dashami (Tika Day) Black Sesame Seeds
Ekadashi Curd (Dahi)
Dwadashi Beaten Rice (Chiura)
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Decoding Ashtanga Bali: The Two Paths of Worship
The tradition of Ashtanga Bali (Eight-part Offering) during Dashain is generally understood through two distinct methods of worship:
1. Sattvik Puja (The Pure Path)
This method prioritizes purity and devotion without the need for animal sacrifice. The offerings include:
Edibles: Ghee, honey, jaggery, curd, milk, pan, fruits, and various sweets (Mishthanna).
Symbolic Bali: Instead of animals, various fruits and vegetables are offered as symbolic sacrifices, such as sponge gourd, radish, guava, banana, and ash gourd (Kubindo).
2. Tamsik Puja (The Tantric Path)
This method, which often falls under Tantra Vidhan, involves the use of animal products and sacrifices to appease the deity.
Offerings: Fish, meat, and the blood of animals.
Panchabali: While eight types of sacrifices were traditionally recognized, legal and practical constraints have made Panchabali (Five Sacrifices) more common, consisting of the male buffalo, goat, sheep, chicken, and duck.
Symbolism: Even within this tradition, there are symbolic offerings: soybeans and coconut are considered symbolic representations of the goat, while fish represent aquatic life. This Tamsik method is highly prevalent among the Nepalese Newar community in the Kathmandu Valley.
Tika, Phulpati, and Continuity
Beyond the rituals of Navaratri, other traditions hold significant cultural weight:
Phulpati
The Phulpati ceremony involves bringing various sacred items into the puja room. These include sugarcane, jamara, rice stalks, banana leaves, and Jatapushpa, all of which are considered crucial for the proper worship of Bhagawati.
The Significance of Tika
A unique feature of Dashain in Nepal is the variation in the Tika received on Dashami. While red Tika is most common, some families use white Tika. Mishra explains that the colour is determined by the Ishtadevata (the family’s primary or favourite deity). Families who revere Bhagawati primarily use red, while those who prioritize Shiva or Narayan may opt for white Tika, reflecting their deity’s preferred items.
Unbreakable Tradition
The festival holds such importance that it’s considered a fast rule that the Dashain worship must never be abandoned, even in the event of a death in the family. In such cases, the tradition of offering Jamara is kept alive through a daughter (who has married and left the paternal home) after the initial 13-day mourning period.
For more: Culture Expert Kirtinath Mishra