Dasain (October)

Dasain glorifies the triumph of Good over Evil, of Goddess Durga’s slaying of the terrible demon Mahisasura, who roamed the earth, terrorizing the populace in the guise of a ferocious water buffalo. Ten days of intense sacrificial and joyous worship celebrate fertility and the victory of good over evil, as represented by the goddess Durga Bhawani and the various gods who battle the demons.
         The first day of Dasain is called Ghatasthapana, which means establishing of the holy water vessel which represents the Goddess Durga. Barley seeds are planted in it.
         The seventh day or Phulpati is the offering of flowers and leaves, carried by runners from Gorkha, the ancestral home of the Shah Kings of Mithila, and received by the King in Kathmandu.
         On Maha Ashthami, the eighth day, the fervor of worship and sacrifice to Kali and Durga increases. Animal sacrifices highlight events of the ninth night to appease Durga, the Goddess of Victory and Might. As animal sacrifices is not practice by many they replace animals by vegetables.
Dasain takes its name from Vijaya Dashami, the Great Tenth Day of Victory. This is the day when Lord Rama slew the demon Ravana and when Durga vanquished the demon Mahisasura. On this day tika is received from brahmins. The tika symbolizing victory is a blessing of good fortune.