KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 6

Bada Dashain, the greatest and longest festival of Nepali Hindus, will officially begin with Ghatasthapana tomorrow.

Ghatasthapana, the first day of Navaratri Parba or the nine-night festival of Bada Dashain, falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada. Ghatasthapana is observed by people by performing puja and setting up ghata or pot on which they sow the seeds of barley, wheat, corn and rice at homes and temples in accordance with Vedic tradition.

According to Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti, 11:46am is the auspicious time for sowing seeds in a mixture of sand and soil in a clay pot tomorrow.

The sprouted seedlings are called jamara. These are offered along with tika on the 10th day, which is observed as Vijaya Dashami.

Following Ghatasthapana, the most auspicious hour for replacing national flags hoisted in government offices is 11:56am on October 8.

Similarly, this year's Pachali Bhairav Jatra will be celebrated on October 11.

The procession of goddess Sri Taleju Bhavani will be held on October 12 when the deity will be put in the resting mode. Fulpati is observed on the same day. On this very day, Fulpati will be brought to the Dashain Ghar at Hanumandhoka.

According to NPNS, there is no need to wait for an auspicious time to bring in Fulpati.

Likewise, October 13 will mark Mahaashtami followed by Kalratri puja the same night. Mahanavami will be celebrated on October 14. The main day of the festival, Vijaya Dashami falls on October 15. Though tika can be received and offered from the day of Vijaya Dashami to Kojagrat Purnima, the most auspicious time for receiving and offering tika is 10:02am on the day of Vijaya Dashami.

According to popular Hindu myth, Goddess Durga had killed the demon king Mahishasur on Mahanavami.

Thus, Vijaya Dashami symbolises the victory of good over evil.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 7, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.