The biggest festival of Nepal, Dashain, has started on September 21, 2017. The first day of Dashain, Ghatasthapana is celebrated by Nepali all over the world. The 10-days worship of Goddess Durga has started in various temples and at homes in Nepal.

Let me go through the the major festive days of Dashain:

Day 1 – Ghatasthapana

The first day of Dashain starts with placing a water pot (Kalash) that symbolizes goddess Durga. The Kalash is filled with holy water and is covered with cow dung with some barley seeds added to it.

On the day, barley seeds are used to plant Jamara (wheatgrass). The plantation is done according to Hindu rituals and worshiping. Astrologers determine a specefic auspicious time to perform the ritual. It is believed that the goddess resides in the vessel (Kalash) during navratri.

The room where the ritual is performed is known as the Dashain Ghar where outsiders and women are not allowed, traditionally. In the past, it was a custom of a male family member, usually the head of the house, to worships the Kalash twice every day, once in the morning and then in the evening. But, these days, the discrimination has been ended and women are also allowed to perform the puja of the woman goddess, Durga. The Jamara plantation is kept in dark and holy water is offered every day to the seeds. By the tenth day the seed will grown to five to six inches long. The grass kept in total dark are yellow and is considered a sacred grass used with Tika on the 10th day of the festival.

Schools and colleges close for the festival starting Ghatasthapana.
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