Dasain or Vijay Dasami is a festival to symbolize
the victory of good over evils. It is usually celebrated in the month of Kartik (basically falls in September-
October). It is the longest festival in the Hindu culture, which is 15 days
celebration. The first, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth day holds most
important.
 |
| Goddess Durga |
As
per the Hindu mythology, there are two stories over which the Vijay Dasami or Dasain is being celebrated. One story says that, there was a demon
named Mahisasura who was very powerful
and attempt to rule heaven of gods. He had such a strength that even gods seems
powerless in front of him, hence the Goddess Durga
(a manifestation of Parvati) fight
against the terror of demons and killed him. It is believed that the war went
for nine days “Navaratri” and finally
Durga defeated the demon and achieved
victory on the tenth day, and is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil.
Another
story says that, this festival symbolises the victory of Lord Ram (seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu) over Ravan
(the King of Lanka). The war started when Ravan
kidnapped Sita, wife of Lord Ram using his magical tricks and
took her to Lanka. The tenth day is symbolised as the victorious day of good
over evil. Whatsoever it may be, it is the celebration of victory.
Ghatasthapana
is the first day of Dasain or Vijay Dasami and also the first day of Navaratri. Ghatasthapana literally means “pot establishing”. On this day Kalash (holy water vessel) symbolising
goddess Durga is placed in the prayer
room. It is filled with holywater and covered with cowdung on to which seeds of
barley are sown. Then Kalash is put
in the centre of rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also
seeded with grains (The germinated shoot, Jamara,
from these seeds are used on the tenth day). The Ghatasthapana ritual is performed till the seventh day. This
ceremony is to worship goddess Durga
to bless the vessel with her presence.
The
seventh day is called “Fulpati”. It
literally means day of “flowers, leaves and plants”. On this day, houses are
cleaned and decorated them with colours and flowers. As per earlier culture,
nine types of flowers and plants (known as Navapatriva)
are brought in to the worship altar. These nine items of Navapatriva represnts manifestations of nine Hindu Gods and
Goddess.
Then,
the eighth day of Dasain is called Ashtami.
On this day, offering and sacrifices of animals are done to please Goddess Mahakali (a form of Goddess parvati).
And the people who do not sacrifice animals offer fruits instead of blood to
deities.
The
ninth day and also the last day of “Navaratri”
is called Mahanavami, “the great
ninth day”. This day was the last day of the battle. All the ceremonies and
rituals reach to the end on this day. This day is also known as demon-hunting
day as defeated demons tries to save themselves hiding under the skin of
animals.
Vijay Dasami is
the tenth day of the festival and also the most important day of the festival.
It is the day of victory of good over evil and gods over demons. As per two
different stories, it is the day when demon Mahisasura
was killed by goddess Durga and Ravan (the demon king of Lanka) was
killed by Lord Ram to rescue his
wife. On this day, tikka ceremony is
started. The Tikka is an offereing
made to goddess Durga for peace,
prosperity and happiness. All elders and parents place Tikka on the foreheads of their childrens and younger members along
with Jamara, as a tradition to impart
blessing and protection to their family. The Tikka is made by a mixture of red vermillion powder, rice grains
and yogurt (curd). They also offer gifts of money (known as Dakshina in Nepali language) along with
blessing and Tikka. This is the day
on which families and relatives shares laughters and delicious food. The people
visit their relatives and neighbours receiving blesssing and sometimes
exchanging gift. This continues for next five days till full moon. On full moon
day, known as Purnima, the festival
ends.
