By Dirgha Raj Prasai : Dashain is starting from 25th Sep. Tuesday 2014. Nepalese, Indian people and Hindus in all over the world are celebrating Dashain.25th Sep. the Ghatastapana is the first day of Dashain- Durga Puja. After 10th days worshiping the Goddess Durga, starts Vijaya Dashami- the most important day of Dashain when Rama had started to attack the Ravan in Lanka. Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) is a traditional cultural festivity. Before Prithvi Narayan Shah (1768), the festival of Dashain and Tihar (Dewali) had been revered as a common culture of all castes in Nepal and India. In the context of modern Nepal, In the context, the unifier Prithvi Narayan Shah (1768), created a modern Nepal a new tradition was set by bringing Phulpati and Jamara to Kathmandu from the Gorakhkali Temple by a Magar priest. People from both the religion of Hindu and Buddha take Tika from senior family members in order of precedence after worshipping the main gate on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami.
Hindu religion is the most personally expansive and psychologically empowering religion on earth. It is a path that teaches its followers to be fearless, dedicated, focused, strong, assertive, self-controlled, virtuous, self-reliant, and to strive for excellence in all endeavors. It teaches us how to be civilized. Vedic-Hindu can only empower us is such a manner, however, when the full philosophy and lifestyle of religion is actually followed and practiced in daily life. Hinduism is the mother of all religions. There are so many traditional festivals and religious celebrations every Hindus have been maintaining the ritual tradition to keep intact and preach the Hinduism in the world. So, Dashain and Tihar have been celebrating as a widespread festival and as a symbol of power.
We have two pious Hindu countries in the world- Himabatkhanda Nepal and Bharatkhanda-India; Kailash-Mansarowar to Hinda-Mahasagar is the original place of Hindus and Hinduism. The Bramhaputra in east, Hindukush in west, north Kailash-Mansarowar and the south Ganga River is the boundary of Himabatkhanda-Nepal and Ganga to Hinda-Mahasagar is Bharatkhanda-India. Kailash-Mansarowar is the pious land of the lord Shiva. The Himabatkhand covers the land of Brahmaputra in the east, Hindukush in the west, Kailash Mansarovar in the north and the Ganga River in the south. In the past, Nepal was bigger than what it is today. This region is the origin of the Vedas, Upanishads, Purans and Nitishastra. As the region has been irrigated by rivers originating in the Himalaya, several saints of different ethnicity have enriched it with their knowledge. In Nepal, none of the cultures are limited to a caste or race. Almost all Nepalese people put a Tika on their forehead. The Hindu and Buddhist festivals preach that all the people of the world are our friends. Fraternity and honesty always have been propounded by Hindus and Buddhists.
Among the festivals celebrated here, Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) is a traditional cultural festivity. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in Nepalese society. The 15 days of celebration occur from the bright lunar fortnight and ends on the day of the full moon (Kojagrat Purnima). People from both the Hindu and Buddha religions accept Tika from senior family members in order of precedence after worshipping the main gate on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. Among all religions of the world, the Hindu religion is considered the most liberal. According to renowned philosopher Voltaire, Hinduism is the best gift of the East to the West. Similarly, George Bernard Shaw, Irish litterateur, has said: “Hindu religion is the most important and the most liberal religions of the world.”
Dalai Lama, in an interview to Panchjanya Hindi Weekly (Nov 22, 1992), told that he believes Hinduism and Buddhism as brothers. These two religions follow many similarities like Samadhi, Yoga, Tantra etc which were adopted by Buddhists from Hindus. Similarly Bhutanese former King Jigme Singhe Wangchuk spoke on Dashain “I actively participate in Dhashain. Our goddess (Ista-devata) is Mahalaxmi and we worship Shiva and Vishnu.” That of King Jigme was published as interview on ‘The Times of India’ in January 7, 1993.
Dashain and Tihar are common festivals of all Hindus and Buddhists. But some anti-Hindus are creating confusion among the Nepalese castes. Currently, the followers of secularism are ruling Nepal. Patriotic people are pondering how to save the identity of our traditional cultures. The identity of a nation fades away when its cultural beliefs are destroyed. On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, we pray to Goddess Nava Durga Bhawani to bring prosperity to the Nepalese people living all around the world. Also, all the political parties must work to save the national traditions and culture. A country’s existence can gradually be eroded by destroying its traditional faiths and cultural beliefs.
If anyone wants the assurance of integrity and lasting peace in this country, one must not be confused about the country’s centuries-old customs and religion. Dashain (worshipping Goddess Bhagawati for power) and Tihar (worshipping Goddess Lakshmi for wealth) is a knot that binds the Nepali people. Nepalese residing outside the nation take the festival as the identity of the Gorkhali Nepali people regardless of their caste, and they exchange greetings and celebrate the festival in perfect cultural harmony.
In Darjeeling, Sikkim, Duars, Assam and Dehradun and Bhutan, Dashain and Tihar are taken as an occasion of the Gorkhas’ unity. Hindus in India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Indonesia as well as other nations around the globe celebrate Dashain in their own ways. Dashain is a common festival of the poor and rich of every castes and tribes. Tika is placed on the forehead by seniors. The ritual of placing the Tika starts from Vijaya Dashami and lasts till the full moon day with much zeal and merriment. Tika is received from the father and mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, teachers and other revered senior members with blessings. Dashain is also important to Indian Hindus who, however, celebrate the occasion without receiving the Tika.
Dashain is celebrated as a symbol of power. According to Hindu mythology, an ogre ‘Rakshes’ (monster) by the name of Mahisasur had caused pain and suffering amongst humans. Then Goddess Durga Bhawani killed the monster to relieve the people of his terror. Dashain is a festival symbolising the victory of truth over evil. The worshipping of Navadurga Bhawani during the Nawaratra (nine nights of worship) from Ghatasthapana is an ancient tradition. It is mentioned in the Devi-Puran: Ram had proposed launching a war against Ravan in Lanka on the occasion of Vijaya Dashmi on Ashwin Shukla Nawaratri. Similarly, it is mentioned in the Padma Puran that Rama had killed Ravan on the day of Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi.
The interested Hindus, Buddhists and member of Muslims used to visit the royal palace to take Tika from the King in Bijayadashami. But will the national festival hold any importance under the pretext of the monarch being displaced? Some people are also dissatisfied owing to the forceful displacement of the monarch following unconstitutional process. Hence, it has become a dilemma in our national politics. Nepal was created with a joint effort between the monarch and the people. We Nepali are very much concerned about the forceful displacement of the monarch following unconstitutional process. Currently, fiends are ruling Nepal. Patriotic people are pondering how to save the nation and chase the monsters. The agendas of republic, secularism and federalism will disintegrate the nation. Nepal has been orphaned without the monarch.
We Nepalese people always want cordial and harmonious relation with India. But, Congress (I) has been conspiring internally to bring us pain. So we were suspicious of Congress (I) Sonia Gandhi and RAW’s activities. We don’t have bitter feelings towards Indian people. When Congress (I) comes to power it has influenced the traitors within Nepal and used it against the interest of Nepal. Due to the nefarious conspirator role of Congress (I) and its RAW, Nepal has been standing on the verge of dismemberment in the last seven years. We Nepalese people hope- the BJP-Modi Govt should maintain the amicable harmonious relation with Nepal proposing the beloved constitutional monarchy and Hindu Kingdom in Nepal for the sake of to keep intact Hinduism and regional stability and peace. We have to keep friendly relations with India due to our similar cultural and religious traditions. The permanent institution- ‘Monarchy’ can put unites the cordial relation between Nepal, India and China. In between the two big neighbors-China & India, the monarchy had been playing a balanced role.
If monarchy is not in Nepal, CIA, EU and western power inters in Nepal in the name of free Tibet to break China. Then, China comes in Nepal for its security. If monarchy and Hindu Kingdom will be in Nepal, then China returns feeling its security because in the presence of monarchy CIA and EU can’t break China in the conspirator slogan of free-Tibet. It is already proved that the Nepalese monarchy is identified the most convincing identity of Nepal’s independence, cultural unity and safeguards the Indian culture and peace also. I think, majority Indian people also want Hindu Kingdom with monarchy in Nepal. In the context of Nepal, Nepalese monarchy is identified most convincing identity of Nepal’s independence, cultural unity and safeguards the Indian culture and peace also. I think, majority Indian people also want Hindu Kingdom with monarchy in Nepal.
Nepalese who have converted to the Christian faith have been creating illusions in the people, urging the people to boycott the great festival. However, some Christians celebrate Dashain for its cultural value without the Tika. There have been efforts to pollute the festival by giving it a political color by the parties. Some people belonging to the indigenous groups have been boycotting the Dashain festival. But indigenous people living abroad are lashing out at this trend. Says Prof. Gopinarayan Pradhan of Darjeeling: “The attempt to reduce the extensive Nepali identity to class-based identity is sad.”
People observe the Tika receiving ceremony as an opportunity to resume broken relations with their relatives and friends. Those who have chosen to boycott the festival are making a mistake. Dashain is an immense opportunity for the relatives living abroad to come together. In reality, Dashain has less to do with religion; it is a traditional cultural belief. It should be kept alive with Hindu Kingdom.