Nepali Hindus celebrate Dashain holidays and many families from urban areas visit rural families and vice versa. There is a lot of shopping goes on! Nepalese families try to shop at least for the children if not for all. The Nepali Government gives bonuses to government workers as at Dashain (usually equal to one's monthly salary). Some private companies such as banks do the same. Farmers earn their bonus by selling their highly demanded agriculture and live-stock products in return for good cash. Our house help and workers also expect bonuses.
Dashain's most popular foodstuff is meat, and in order of popularity are goat, sheep, buffalo, duck, or chicken. Meat is expensive and poorer people usually can not afford it. So dashain is the time to eat lots of meat. Usually animals are bought live from the market and sacrificed at home or in temples. At home, the whole family is involved in cutting and preparing the meat that is usually eaten over the next 2 to 3 day's of feast. But some families prefer to buy the meat already prepared by the butcher.
Dashain is also about family respect, so that is why scattered families come together. Cities suddenly seems to empty, more people returning to villages than people joining families in cities. During this season, people rush to book tickets on buses or planes.
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| Everybody tries to get home to see familiy |
Children love the season also for flying kites and if you visit Kathmandu or any other city during this season, the day-sky is filled with colorful kites like shinning stars in the night!
Tika is a symbol on the forehead that the deity being worshipped is given the highest honor by the person wearing it. Getting a tika is also thought to be a blessing. The oldest person in the family begins giving Dashain tika to the youngest then the second youngest in the family and so on. There is a Hindu belief that 'faith', 'hope', 'inspiration' and 'blessings', all come alive in Dashain.
Traditionally, popular Dashain bank notes are Rupees 2, 5, 10, and 25. Therefore receiving a tika and offering money in notes is regarded as an appreciation. Everybody tries to get smaller and new notes, so banks are usually busy during the season.
The houses and temples are decorated. Walls get a new coat of paints, roads are cleaned, homes and temples are decorated with lights, villagers join together to clean or build new trails, paint their homes using red-colored mud. People clean themselves mentally too by visiting various temples and worshiping during the festival. Puja is regarded as worshiping god for peace and prosperity and are performed at the end of Dashain. Playing cards is a popular during Dashain. Usually family members play cards with each-other or with friends for money.
Village children ride on Ferris wheels, and swings built using traditional methods (ropes made from tough grass, bamboo sticks and wood). Commercial fairs and celebration events are organised in cities.
Some Christian visit their families but do not participate in eating the food sacrificed or receive the tika that shows participation in Hindu worship. Other Christians use it as an opportunity to encourage, train and coach new believers.
Pray for :
- Christian communities and leaders in Nepal
- Christian believers who face persecution from their families
- Organisations including UMN that are focused on development and anti-trafficking
- Nepal peace process and drafting of the new constitution
- Nepal security situation - there has been increase of petty criminal activities
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