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Vijaya Dashami 2008 [Dashain]

Photographers: Abishesh Joshi, Balkrishna Lachhimasyu, Dhilung Kirat, Dijup Tuladhar, Manish Shakya, Rina Maharjan and Sabeen Shrestha
Date: 2008/10/05 – 2008/10/11
Caption: RinaM/DhilungK
Report Compiled by: Luna Gurung
Creative Support: DijupT/RinaM

” दशौं आयो खाऊँला पिऊँला चङ्गा उडाउँला पिङ्ग खेलौंला ”

Dashain, brings about the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. Anywhere you go the festive mood of ‘Vijaya Dashami’ is found.

The first nine days of Dashain are called Nawa Ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess.

The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolizing goddess is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cow dung on to which seeds are sown. The room where the kalash is established is called ‘Dashain Ghar‘. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called ‘Jamara‘. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on.

As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called ‘Fulpati‘.

In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. With this the Dashain feasting starts.

The eighth day is called the Maha Asthami: The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. The night of the eighth day is called ‘Kal Ratri‘, the dark night. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people.

The ninth day is called Nawami: Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. On this very day the god Vishwa Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped.

The tenth day is the Dashami: On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. This function continues for four days after which Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. The full moon day is also called ‘Kojagrata’ meaning ‘who is awake’.

After Dashain everyone settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.

Vijaya Dashami 2065 was observed as vivacious and joyous festivity throughout “Naya Nepal” this year. Our EU volunteers and contributors went extra miles to capture various moments of this festive season. We have an exclusive report along with photographs taken inside and outside of Kathmandu valley.

Managing the people to cross Koshi river to get them home for Dashai
01 Managing the people to cross Koshi river to get them home for Dashai
People ready to ride a boat after walking 4hr to get home
02 People ready to ride a boat after walking 4hr to get home
Koshi story..
03 Koshi story..
.. ripples last for long
04 .. ripples last for long
Swing in Linge ping
05 Swing in Linge ping
Wishing
06 Wishing
Bharda kali on MahaAsthami
07 Bharda kali on MahaAsthami
Kalash for puja
08 Kalash for puja
Queue up at Bharda kali
09 Queue up at Bharda kali
Dashami Diyo
10 Dashami Diyo
Dashain Shop
11 Dashain Shop
Kal Bharab
12 Kal Bharab
Statue of Hanuman at Hanuman Dokha
13 Statue of Hanuman at Hanuman Dokha
Narshiha at Hanuman Dokha
14 Narshiha at Hanuman Dokha
Mahalaxmi being worshipped on Mahaastami
15 Mahalaxmi being worshipped on Mahaastami
Langur Burja
16 Langur Burja
Nyatapola
17 Nyatapola
Seasoned Patan
18 Seasoned Patan
Selling flocks
19 Selling flocks
Set of Feast
20 Set of Feast
MahaAstami Worship - Manakamana Gorkha
21 MahaAstami Worship – Manakamana Gorkha
When is my turn (Manakamana)
22 When is my turn (Manakamana)
Taleju, only open at MahaNawami
23 Taleju, only open at MahaNawami
Beyond the boundary
24 Beyond the boundary
The warm up
25 The warm up
The settings of Kot.
26 The settings of Kot.
The worship begins
27 The worship begins
Ritual process before sacrified (II)
28 Ritual process before sacrified (II)
54 buffalos and 54 gots are sacrificed during kot praba
29 54 buffalos and 54 gots are sacrificed during kot praba
What is you view on this
30 What is you view on this
The sight ... .
31 The sight … .
... and the scene
32 … and the scene
Babas enjoying dashain
33 Babas enjoying dashain
The closing
34 The closing
Controllers of the freedom flights
35 Controllers of the freedom flights
You get to touch this Grand Bell only once a year (on MahaNawami)
36 You get to touch this Grand Bell only once a year (on MahaNawami)
So they are happy to join
37 So they are happy to join
Worship during Nawami
38 Worship during Nawami
In these years our business is getting down.
39 In these years our business is getting down.
Dhago chod .. dhago chad
40 Dhago chod .. dhago chad
Locals visiting Shrine
41 Locals visiting Shrine
Enjoying the Diyo-Light
42 Enjoying the Diyo-Light
Local Instruments
43 Local Instruments
Dattatraya, Bhaktapur (Constructed by the wood of a single tree)
44 Dattatraya, Bhaktapur (Constructed by the wood of a single tree)
Godddess Bramhayani
45 Godddess Bramhayani
Sending the message to God Indra to stop rain.
46 Sending the message to God Indra to stop rain.
Buffalo offered to goddess Bramhayani
47 Buffalo offered to goddess Bramhayani
Akash Bhairab
48 Akash Bhairab
Showing respect to deity I
49 Showing respect to deity I
Showing respect to deity II
50 Showing respect to deity II
Local instrument at Khadga Jatra
51 Local instrument at Khadga Jatra
Kumari
52 Kumari
Paya(khadga) Jatra at Dhasami (I)
53 Paya(khadga) Jatra at Dhasami (I)
Paya(khadga) Jatra at Dhasami (II)
54 Paya(khadga) Jatra at Dhasami (II)
Paya(khadga) Jatra at Dhasami (III)
55 Paya(khadga) Jatra at Dhasami (III)
Vindabasini Pokhara
56 Vindabasini Pokhara
Youthful enthusiasm for the culture
57 Youthful enthusiasm for the culture
Subha Vijaya Dashami
58 Subha Vijaya Dashami
Taking bath before worship
59 Taking bath before worship
Dashain Swing at Sarankot
60 Dashain Swing at Sarankot
Looking through the holy bell - Radha Krishna Temple, Pokhara
61 Looking through the holy bell – Radha Krishna Temple, Pokhara
Taal Barahi on Dashami - Pokhara
62 Taal Barahi on Dashami – Pokhara
Jamara at Tika
63 Jamara at Tika
Set of Tika thaali
64 Set of Tika thaali
The best part of Dashami
65 The best part of Dashami
People busy in Dashain Shopping [Gantok]
66 People busy in Dashain Shopping [Gantok]
Dashami Night in Gantok
67 Dashami Night in Gantok
Waitting for Tihar
68 Waitting for Tihar

13 thoughts on “Vijaya Dashami 2008 [Dashain]

  1. Hey “arroganceUncensored” then why dont u put some of humans behaded here…. that will be “objectionably high that Photojournalism ” then

    Its never on the name of god its just the tradition started by peoples like u………………………..

  2. Pic # 36 stood out among the rest for me. That pic gives the feeling that the bell is actually ringing (with the blur effect for the shock waves? :))

    Was sad to be away from home this Dashain….but am happy after seeing the pics. Kudos to the people behind this EU article 🙂

  3. please, thats the reality and there is no point in hiding the reality. It is being done in the name of god. U must be thinking this depicts violence.. i think it depicts the truth. Look at the mass of curious eyes behind in foto 30…

    Plus, I dont see the degree of violence in these pictures objectionably high that Photojournalism shud consider it unfit. Much more violent pictures were published in the public print media from Vietnam war.

  4. wow…really stunning pics…hats off to all the photographers…#10, #23, #36, #40, #46, #60, #61, #68 are most commendable…..wow..

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