Dussehra: The hour of happiness

Culture is a treasure of a community. Till culture is saved, the community exists. Dushera is one such festival that is worshipped by all the Nepalese Hindus, irrespective of class and creed. It is the most auspicious festival and symbolizes the victory of Goddess Durga or Devi Bhawani over demon Mahisashur.

Legend says, the demon king Mahissasur was a great offender whose tyranny and strain made the gods in heaven reach out to lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu thus created a powerful and beautiful Devi Bhawani. She had a lion as a vehicle presented by the Himalayas and every god worshipped her as Parbati, Maha Shakti, Mahakali and others. When Mahaisasur came to know about Devi Bhawani, he was astonished by her beauty and desired to marry her.

Devi came to know about the demon's evil thoughts and invited him to the battlefield. She put on a condition that he would marry him if he defeats her in the duel. The battle was fought and finally, an atrocity of the devil was put to an end. The battle was fought for nine days and reflects the tradition of Navratha and on the tenth day Vijaya Dashami, the days of victory with tika (smear of rice, curd and colours) is observed.

Dussehra is a time when men and women are attired in their best clothes. The houses are painted and it is the time for a family feast. The festival is also called Dashain in Nepal, Sikkim and its neighbouring Nepali speaking region meaning ‘the ten’. 

Navartha is celebrated for nine days, where people pay homage to the goddess. Lessons on Chandi, Durga Kavach and Durga Mahatmya are recited at homes and temples. Navatha starts on Ashwin Sukla, where the idol of Devi Bhawani is established with the idol of Ganesha and Devi Laxmi on the right while the idol of Kartik and Devi Bharati is placed on the left side on this day.

Jamara (barley seeds that give green grass) is sowed on top of cow dung, mud and sand are placed in the tappara (small bowl made of the leaf) of Newara, banana, etc). This day is also known as Ghatasthapana symbolizes the start of the festival.

Holy water is collected on a kalash (water vessel) and offered to the Devi; offering her the holy water is believed to gratify her. For nine days, the head of the family sprinkles the holy water on the seed of Jamara. It is believed that Lord Rama received blessings from Devi Bhawani in the form of Jamara and was victorious against Ravana. Thus Jamara has its part in the tradition of the Hindus.

On each day, Navaratha has different images of Devi Bhawani as; Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandra ghanta, Chashmanda, Rukundamata, Katyayarni, Kaalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. The seventh day is known as Saptami and also the day of Phulpati. To this day actually, the Devi had not arrived at the puja ghar, only the religious texts are recited.

It is on this day of Pulphati that the Devi is invited. This day is celebrated with a full merry and a large number of devotees gathered and follows the long procession. People in traditional dresses and costumes carry out the flowers and the kalash. Everyone dances all the way through the road chanting religious hymns. While moving along the marketplace they stoop at one place where they assume that the Devi has arrived in their flowers. The flowers are then worshipped; water and rice grains sprinkled. The procession is then taken back and the Devi is placed on the puja ghar.

The eight-day is the Maha Ashtami where animal sacrifice is performed. There is a tradition of giving sacrifice in the name of Mahakali and waking up of the Devi Kaal Ratri.

Aasthami starts the stage for the bhoj, the traditional food meal of the Newars. Now for the last three days of the Aastami, the family members will not use rice for their meal. The bhoj mainly consists of mutton, egg, Soya bean, beaten rice, garlic, zinger, sidra, the local liquor or the curd and others. These food items are served in a banana leaf. The ladies in the family have to give the food to the male members and it is the same when the ladies come for the feast, all in a traditional way. Before the bhoj is performed, sota is given with eggs on the tappara and a cup of curd with the hands crossed such that the person in the receiving end takes the cup in his right hand. At least three times he needs to lick the egg and drink the curd and each of the three times the curd is added to his cup as is the tradition.

The family members sit at the gundri (mat) on the floor as to their precedence. The younger ones have to bow to the feet of all the seniors in the assembled room and sit in their respective places. The place is first swept at one time without lifting the broom. Then the water is brought in the container along with the bowl to wash out the hand and the mouth. After cleaning up the mouth, the water is sprinkled three times in order to purify. The custom is also repeated after the end of the Bhoj. After bowing to the seniors the bhoj ends.

This bhoj continues for the next two days. Ashtami is also known as maar ceremony for the tradition of the sacrifice. The animals are sacrificed to please the goddess. The sacrificial goats, hens, and others are first worshipped and tika is put on their forehead. These activities continue till the naumi, the ninth day of the navratha. It is believed that, if the animal is not killed in one force, the Devi is not pleased.

The ninth day is the main puja. It is on this day that the chandi recitation comes to an end. On this day the Bhimsen puja is performed. A goat and a cock are sacrificed in order to please the kul devta. It is also believed if one could please the Bhimsen one can attain eternity. The head of the goat and the cock is offered to the feet of the idol. That person who doesn’t follow the sacrificing of the animals they offer the flowers and the fruits.

After naumi, it is the vijaya dashami. This day is the actual dasian, the Nepali people observe. Everyone celebrates the victory of goddess Durga. On this day the elder puts the tika made of the smear of the rice grains, curd and the colours on the forehead of the young ones and blesses them for eternity. A sacred string (kokha) of red and white is tied on their neck, where the red colour symbolises victory and the white colour the purity. The jamara is placed behind the ear of the young ones.

Different Nepali communities have their own way of celebrating the occasion but the deep-rooted perception for all remains the same. The last of the five days is celebrated as the victory over evil.