Gurung blames priority on Dashain for Dalit woes

Posted on: 2012-10-12 09:13:47

Dear Dev Gurung jee ! Please read and use the reality of Dashain. 'Dashain' Nepalese National Festival- Renowned in all Over the World By Dirgha Raj Prasai Having diverse cohesive communities, Nepal has built up as a nation in a long historical process. Nepal was worthy to be bowed down by Hindus all over the world. This is the highest honor Nepal could receive from the international community. Nepal's prestige and honor would elevate further if this country is declared as "Hindu and Buddhist" country, instead of a secular state. In Nepal, there are many festivals which have been traditionally people's oriented. Among all the festivals- Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) is a traditional cultural festivity. We are proud to be Nepali. We want to be free of foreign intervention pertaining to our national unity, our traditional culture, and we will be free. Everyone has the right to follow their own religion. Before Prithvi Narayan Shah (1768), the festival of Dashain and Tihar had been revered as a common culture of all castes. After Prithvi Narayan Shah, created a modern Nepal a new tradition was set by bringing Phulpati and Jamara to Kathmandu from the Gorakhkali Temple by a Magar priest. People from both the religion of Hindu and Buddha take Tika from senior family members in order of precedence after worshipping the main gate on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. A cultural analyst Avigya Karki wrtites-The tenth day is the 'Dashami'. On this day we take Tika and Jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get Tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive Tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone. After Dashain the nation settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal. It is a matter of grief since 2006; some foreign agents are playing with the identity of Nepal under the guise of wolves and the foreigner's direction. Patriotic people are pondering how to save the nation and chase the monsters. The identity of a nation fades away when its cultural belief is in a sequence. To avoid this Hindus, Buddhists and patriotic Nepali people scattered across the world must launch an initiation. We patriotic people of the nation pray to goddess Nava Durga Bhawani to be prosperous to the Nepalese People all around the world. Durga is the symbol of truth which annihilates Mahishashura, representative of devil.Including, the all political Parties have to work far to come on the track to save the national traditions and culture. A country's existence and prestige can gradually be eroded by finishing off its faith and belief tradition and culture traditional faith and cultural beliefs. If anyone wants the assurance of integrity and lasting peace in this country, one must not be confused about the country's century's old customs and religion. Hindus and Buddhists celebrate Dashain as national festival. Buddhist families in Stupas also celebrate Dashain cheerfully. According to them Lord Buddha has said Sanatan Dharma is chief religion. They also believe that there should be no penetration of religion and politics in traditional festivals. Buddhist Chandramukhi Lama says-'Dhashain is national heritage. Buddhists accept Red (few white) Tika on forehead. Whatever colour it is, it is symbol of victory of truth over untruth. Gyanibajra Lama (79 years), Chief of Buaudhha has residence aside of Stupa. He welcomes his guests in Dashain with Tika and Jamara. He says as that of Hindu tradition, they (Buddhists) also celebrate Dhashin with Tika and Jamara. Similarly, Nepalese Muslim community also respect Dashain. Muslim community in Nepalgunj celebrate Dashain taking Red Tika and Yellow Jamara as Prasad of Dev. This is an example of respect of one religion to another. Dalai Lama, in an interview to Panchjanya Hindi Weekly (Nov 22, 1992), told that he believes Hinduism and Buddhism as brothers. These two religions follow many similarities like Samadhi, Yoga, Tantra etc which were adopted by Buddhists from Hindus. Similarly Bhutanese former King Jigme Singhe Wangchuk spoke on Dashain "I actively participate in Dhashain. Our goddess (Ista-devata) is Mahalaxmi and we worship Shiva and Vishnu." This of King Jigme was published as interview on 'The Times of India' in January 7, 1993. Since the tradition of people to equally participate on worship to Shiva and Buddha, Nepal never encountered conflicts among followers of these two religions. The goddess Gorakkali at Gorkha and Manokamana, Tansen Bhagawoti-Palpa, Bageshori at Nepaljung, Saileshori at Doti, Tripurasundari at Dolpa, Pathivara at Taplejung, Singhbahini at Terathum, Dantakali at Dharan, Maisthan at Biratnagar, Shakhadadevi at Rajbiraj, Rajdevi at Dhanusha, Maisthan at Birgung, Gadimai at Bara, Churiyamai and Bhutan Devi at Makawanpur, Kalingchok at Dolakha, Bidyabasini at Pokhara, Chandeshori and Palanchok Bhagawoti at Kavre, In Kathmandu vally- Guheshori, Dakhinkali, Bhadrakali, Naksal Bhagawoti, Kalikasthan, Maitidevi, Shobha Bhagawoti, Sankata, Indraani at Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, Nawadurga at Bhaktapur, Bagalamukhi,Taleju Bhagawoti, Bagrabarahi, Bagrajogini-Shakhun, Naradevi, Raktakali have been worshiping with great devotion. Augratara at Dadeldhura, Malikadebi is famous at Kalikot at Karnali. Similarly, we have thousands temples of Goddess in Nepal which have been devoting by the various castes and tribes in local areas. In Darjeeling, Sikkim, Duarsh, Asaam and Deharadun and Bhutan Dashain and Tihar is taken as an occasion of Gorkhas unity. Hindus in India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Hongkong, America, Britain, Germany and Australia including other nation (where Nepali and Hindus are living) around the globe celebrate Dashain in their own ways. Dashain is common festival of poor and rich. Tika, a mixture of cord, red vermilion and rice is placed on the temple of the body by seniors with Jamara (nine days old barley seed) as flowers. Some Christians also celebrate Dadhain as a cultural value without Tika. Prof.Gopinarayan Pradhan of Darjeeling said- 'the attempt to reduce the extensive Nepali identity to class based identity is sad.' Swami Prapnanacharya said-'Estadev Mahadev, Parwati and Drawasam and Yumasan. Worshipping Nawadurga in Nawaratra is an ancient tradition. To pollute the ancient culture of receiving Tika on the day of Dashami or Bijayadashami at the right time is not wise. Since time infinitive, Dashain is celebrated as a widespread festival and as a symbol of power. According to Hindu mythology, an ogre 'Rakshes' (monsters) by the name of Mahisasur had caused pain and suffering amongst humans. Then goddess Durga Bhawani killed the monster to relieve the humans. Dashain is the festival symbolizing victory of truth over evil. The worshipping of the Nawadurga Bhawani during the Nawaratra (nine night of worship) from Ghatastapana is an ancient tradition. It is mentioned in the Devi-Puran-'Ram had proposed of launching war against Rawan in Lanka on the occasion of Bijayadashami in Ashwin Shukla Nawaratri'. Similarly, it is mentioned in the Padma-Puran- 'Rama had killed Rawan on the day of Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi.' It is our glorious national festival. . I extend to everyone the Greetings on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami2069 Bs. or 2012. Thank you Dirgha Raj Prasai Dirgha Raj Prasai, Kathmandu, Nepal