Ghatasthapana marks the beginning of Dashain. It literally means installing a pot which symbolizes Goddess Shakti. It falls on Aswin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar in the month of Ashvin. On this day the kalasha is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which barley seeds are sown. Subsequently, the kalasha is put in the center of a rectangular sand block. The remaining bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The priest then starts the puja by calling goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence. This ritual is performed at a certain auspicious time which is determined by the astrologers. Goddess Shakti is believed to reside in the Kalash vessel during the Navratri period.

The room where all this is done is known as the ‘Dasain Ghar’. Generally, outsiders and women are not allowed to enter the Dasain Ghar. A male family member worships the Kalasha twice every day, once in the morning and then in the evening. It is kept under direct sunlight and holy water is offered to it everyday so that by the tenth day of the festival the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. This sacred grass is known as ‘Jamara’. These rituals continue till the seventh day.

There is no doubt that Nepal is a land of festivals and Celebrations. We celebrate more than 100 festivals in a year. Different caste have their different culture and festivals. But there is one festival that is celebrated by the whole nation together, which last for half of the month, that festival we called is DASHAIN. 

Dashain is national festival for Nepalese. Though it is specially celebrated by Hindus,  Dashain fever touches every Nepalese, does not matter they are hindu or not.

Why Dashain is Celebrated?

Dashain is a festival celebrated in name of goddess Durga for fifteen days. We, Nepalese have a strong belief that in the tenth day of dashain, goddess Durga has slayed the demon Mahisasur, who was terrorising the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. Rest of the nine days was the battle period between goddess Durga and demon Mahisasaur. The killing of Mahisasur by goddess Durga symbolises the victory of truth, positivity and joy against the evil deed. The last five days is the celebration of this victory, alone with the blessing of goddess Durga.

What we do in Dashain?

The  first day of Dashain is Ghatasthapana, which means pot establishing. On this day all the hindu family, plant the seed(jaun)  for “Jamara”, which is expected to grow within the 10 days of Dashain celebration. This is done to request Durga for her blessings. Following seven days are passed by regular ritual. seventh day is called Fulpati. In fulpati, royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella. After this the eight and nineth day is called Astami and Navami. On these days, machines, shops, equipments, vehicles are worshipped. Sacrificing of animals is also done in these two days. Finally the tenth day is Dashami. On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders. along with tika, dakshina is also given, which is even more famous among kids. On the rest of the five days, we visit our relatives for tikas.