Dashain celebration begins in Nepal as India prepares for Navratri

Celebrations for Dashain has begun in Kathmandu, capital city of Nepal, on Sunday, September 29. Dashain is an important Hindu festival celebrated all over Himalayan country. Dashain, also kwn as Ba Dashain is longest festivals celebrated in Nepal with great fervor and zest.  festival which usually falls in month of September or October is celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to goddess Durga, also kwn as universal mor Goddess.

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festival starts with Ghatasthapana

Popularly kwn as a festival of harvest, first day of festival started with Ghatasthapana by setting up a pot (Kalash) symbolizing mor Durga, which is filled with holy water and covered with cow dung and barley seeds, followed by sowing of barley, wheat, maize and pdy seeds. 

"Today at Hanuman Dhoka, Dashain Ghar we kept Diyo, Kalash and Ganesh we worshipped Goddess Bhagwati-Durga Mata, Mahakali, Maha-Laxmi, Maha-Saraswati, Istevi Sworipini Durga Bhagwati. Along with we chant Durga Kawach, Durga Path, Durga Satrasati chants hymns and worship m," Dev Acharya, priest of Dashain Ghar at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square told ANI.

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Celebration of good over evil

It is a celebration of good prevailing over evil that lasts for 15 days.  most important is first, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth day. first day with Ghatasthapana marks beginning of festival, seventh day is also kwn as ‘Saptami’ followed by Maha Ashtami on eighth day when families offer goats, ducks, chickens, eggs and coconuts to goddess Kali and meat is taken as pras. ninth day, Navami is day when craftsman, mechanics, trers worship ir equipment and tools.  tenth day is most important day when  goddess ‘Shakti’ is worshiped in all her manifestations.

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One of victory stories according to Hindu mythology reveals that a demon named ‘Mahishasura’ who spre horror was killed by Goddess Durga.  demon Mahishasura was causing terror in Devaloka (world of gods) until Durga killed demon. first nine days of Dashain symbolize battle that took place between different manifestations of Durga and Mahishasura. tenth day is day when Durga finally defeated him. festival also symbolizes victory of Lord Rama over demon king Ravana and is also celebrated as Dussera in India. start of Dashain festival also marks beginning of Navratri celebrations in India.

(With inputs from ANI)

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