Dashain Festival

Just as we start preparing for Christmas, the Nepali celebrate Dashain - their longest and most auspicious festival. Dashain is a time for family reunions, exchanging of gifts, elaborate pujas, food and fun. All around Nepal you can spot larges swings made of tall bamboo poles. It is believed that one must leave the ground by riding the swing during the Dashain festival for good luck in the coming year.

Dashain is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal, traditionally celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings. Pilgrims flock to various river confluences early in the morning and sacred shrines in the evening.  During Dashain, men and women in their fineries visit their elders to seek tika (a dab of red vermilion mixed with yogurt and rice) accompanied by blessings. 

New clothes, home visits, grand feasts, kite flying and village swings are the highlights of Dashain. Around this time the population of Kathmandu is greatly reduced as many head home to various parts of the country.