Dashain is a major festival celebrated by many Hindu families in Nepal and by Nepali communities around the world. Its religious observances honour Goddess Durga, while its family visits, shared meals and blessings make it an important time for connection across generations.
What is Dashain?
Dashain, also known as Bada Dashain and associated with Vijaya Dashami, is among Nepal's most widely observed annual festivals. It is commonly understood through the story of good overcoming evil and through devotion to Goddess Durga. The exact ways people observe the festival vary by family, community and region.
For many people, Dashain is both a religious season and a homecoming. Relatives travel to be together, visit elders, share meals and exchange blessings. The festival's importance is therefore felt not only in temples and rituals but also in family relationships and community life.
Why is Dashain significant?
The festival honours Durga and the victory of divine power over destructive forces. Its sequence of observances gives the season a rhythm: Ghatasthapana begins the central period, followed by days such as Phulpati, Maha Astami and Maha Nawami, with Vijaya Dashami especially associated with receiving tika and blessings from elders.
These observances are not identical everywhere. Some communities have distinct local traditions, and individuals may take part in different ways. A useful calendar should show the published date and classification for each event rather than imply that every household follows one single practice.
Tika, jamara and family blessings
On Vijaya Dashami, many families gather as elders place tika—commonly a mixture including rice, yogurt and vermilion—and jamara on younger relatives, accompanied by blessings. Jamara is grown for the festival after Ghatasthapana. The visit can be a chance to reconnect with relatives who live far away and to share wishes for well-being and prosperity.
Find this year's dates
Dashain's dates follow the Nepali calendar and change from year to year. KhataPal's Dashain guide and Nepali calendar show the current published dates in both Bikram Sambat and Gregorian formats. Check the event classification on the calendar for the distinction between a public holiday and an observance.