Dashain music fades in Sudurpaschim

By Our Correspondent,Dadeldhura, Oct. 17: As Nepal’s major Hindu festival, Dashain commences, people working or studying away from home are returning to their villages to celebrate with their families. However, in Dadeldhura and other parts of Sudurpaschim Province, traditional ways of celebrating Dashain are gradually disappearing.

Dashain begins with Ghatasthapana, when people sow barley seeds to grow jamara, which is used for worship and blessings. In many villages of Sudurpaschim, devotees observe Navaratri at temples dedicated to their family and local deities. On Dashain day, they receive tika and jamara from temple priests and dhamis (traditional religious mediums).

In some villages, traditional musical instruments accompany religious processions carrying the idols or symbols of local deities from village shrines to temples. Devotees perform daily worship before returning home with tika and jamara on Dashain day. Animal sacrifices are also offered at some temples during Ashtami and Dashain to fulfil vows made to deities.