Nepalis celebrate Vijaya Dashami today

KATHMANDU: The biggest cultural and religious festival of Nepalis, Vijaya Dashami, is being celebrated across the country on Tuesday, 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 Bada Dashain 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 Bada Dashain.

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 Bada Dashain.

Although the auspicious hour for receiving Tika has been fixed for 8.45 am today as per the requirement of the calendar, the entire day after the immersion of the Goddess is auspicious for that purpose, according to Prof (Dr) Ram Chandra Gautam, President of the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee.

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