Dassain

Dashain is celebrated by the Hindu followers all over Nepal and also in the southern foothills of Bhutan. It is the festival that brings happiness and delivers the message of unity among people. This festival signifies unity, the victory of truth, and the inception of happiness. 

Dashain symbolizes the victory of good over evil. For followers of Shaktism, it represents the victory of the goddess Durga. For other Hindus, this festival symbolizes the victory of Ram over Ravan as recounted in the Ramayana.

The main objective of Dashain is soul-cleansing. The festival is about individual purity, detoxification and devotion. The main objective of Dashain is soul-cleansing. The festival is about individual purity, detoxification and devotion.

I celebrated Dassain in 2021 during my teaching practice at Wangdue Phodrang at my parents' old friends. 

We had tika put on, and some flowers on the ears and a token of blessings from the elders (in the form of money). 

After this ritual, we were served a feast. 

Celebrating dassain is a festival close to my heart since I have always celebrated since childhood (I live and grew up in the southern foothills so its natural for me).