KATHMANDU: The biggest cultural and religious festival of Nepalis, Vijaya Dashami, is being celebrated across the country today, on the 10th day of the waxing moon in the month of Ashwin as per the lunar calendar.

On Vijaya Dashami, the most significant day of the 15-day Badadashain festival, there is the tradition of receiving Tika and Jamara' from elders as the auspicious items bestowed by the goddesses Nawa Durga, Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati.

The Tika is the mixture of red vermillion powder and curd that is put on the forehead as a sign of victory and good luck. Similarly, jamara are shoots of barley or maize especially germinated for the Dashain festival and put behind the ears or between the hair.

The barley or maize grains have been sown on the day of Ghatasthapana, the first day of Badadashain.

The Durgasaptasati scriptures, hymns devoted to the Goddess Durga are recited until the ninth day from the day of Ghatasthapana (Navaratri).

There is the tradition of receiving Tika, Jamara and blessings from the elders from the day of Vijaya Dashami to Kojagrat Purnima, the final or the 15th day of Badadashain.

Auspicious time

According to Prof Dr Ram Chandra Gautam, Chairman of Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the Mahanawami and Dashami have befallen on the same day (today) this year.

The Committee has stated that the statues of the goddesses and the special anointed altars where the Jamara were germinated could be immersed in rivers or ponds at the auspicious time of 10:45 am.

Likewise, the auspicious time for receiving Tika and Jamara has been set for10:55 am today.

Vijaya Dashami is also celebrated as the victory of truth and good over evil and falsehood.

There is the practice of putting on new clothes and enjoying sumptuous meal and delicacies as per one's purchasing power on the occasion of the Dashain.

It is believed that the festival of Dashain inspires humankind to forsake lust, greed, avarice, anger, arrogance, indolence, violence and theft.