Ekadashi (Dashain) in Nepal

When did the Ekadashi (Dashain) in Nepal start?

The first recorded date of Ekadashi (Dashain) in Nepal being celebrated on October 25 was in the year 737.

About Ekadashi (Dashain) in Nepal Holiday

The Ekadashi (Dashain) festival is a special time of year for the citizens of Nepal. It is a major Hindu festival celebrated across the nation to mark the victory of good over evil, and the triumph of Maa Durga over the demon Mahishasur. Ekadashi or Dashain is a ten-day celebration, with each day having a special significance.

The festivities begin with Ghatasthapana, where a Kalash filled with holy water and grains is installed as a symbolic representation of divine forces. On the 10th day, Kojagrat Purnima is celebrated when a cow and a goat are offered in sacrifice, and a grand feast is organized to signal the end of the festivities. During the festival, family and friends come together to celebrate, exchanging greetings and gifts. Delicious traditional delicacies such as Momos, Sel roti, and Bhutaysini are cooked. On this occasion, the Mata Parvati temple in Kathmandu holds a big celebration, which is immensely popular among the devotees.

Ekadashi or Dashain in Nepal has great historical and religious significance. The grand celebration of the festival brings joys to many lives and enhances the spirit of brotherhood and peace in the nation. All those who come together to celebrate this special occasion are able to find solace in the spiritual atmosphere of the festival. Let's join hands to celebrate Ekadashi (Dashain), the biggest festival of Nepal.

Ekadashi (Dashain) in Nepal

Ekadashi, known regionally as Dashain, is an important religious festival celebrated in Nepal. It is observed on the eleventh day of the lunar months such as Kartik, Vaishakh and Jeth. The origin and rituals are rooted in Hindu Bhakti tradition. Amongst Hindus, Ekadashi or Dashain is observed as a day of fasting, prayer, and remembrance.

History and Origin

Ekadashi is believed to have originally been an ancient Vedic festival. The Bhavisya Purana, a Sanskrit text dated to 900 – 1000 BC, specifically mentions «Dashahara» as a sacred religious event.This festival gets its name from the Sanskrit word Ekadashi meaning «eleventh day» as it falls on eleventh day of every month in the Hindu calendar. It is suggested that the festival has been celebrated since ancient times, as a day of religious observance and spiritual reflection.

According to Hindu scholars, Ekadashi’s primary purpose is «to destroy sins and to remove obstacles to a successful life.» For Hindus, it is a festive occasion to gather, reflect on their faith, and pray for blessings. Later, it developed into an annual festival celebrated mainly in the Hindu communities of Nepal and India and religions around the world.

In Nepal, Ekadashi is one of the most important festivals, celebrated for over several decades. It is a period that connects Nepalis to their cultural roots and traditional values. Over the years, the observance of Ekadashi has evolved and adapted to the changing times keeping its essential aspects of faith and devotion.

Significance and Meaning

For Hindus, Ekadashi is a symbolic way of showing devotion and gratitude to God as one fasts and prays for his or her spiritual journey. It is believed that Ekadashi is a powerful day for spiritual purification. Therefore, those who observe the Ekadashi fast take it very seriously.

The observance is associated with the progressive development of a person’s mind, body and spirit which is essential for spiritual progress. During the fasting, devotees abstain from eating grains, beans and pulses. The idea behind this is to limit excessive intake of food and experience time of closed reflection on one’s life and relationship with God. This is followed by taking a dip in holy places and offering puja. Additionally, people visit temples to take blessings from the local holy figures.

Traditions and Celebrations

In Nepal, on the day of Ekadashi (Dashain) people take a dip in holy rivers or lakes, and perform puja and rituals. People offer special prayers to Surya Bhagavan for good health, wealth, and success in life. The 13-day long festivities are an occasion of joy and festivity, when people are clad in new clothes and wear their most colorful attire.

On the occasion, people celebrate by sending gifts, sweets, and Diyas (lamps) to each other, symbolic of prosperity and good luck. This is followed by bursting of firecrackers and decorating homes with rangoli patterns.

On the last day of the celebration, also referred to as ‘Tika’, the Jyostna Ekadashi has special significance among Nepali people. On this day, people take special blessings from elders of the family. The elder people offer blessings by putting colorful tika on the foreheads of their beloved folks. It is accompanies with the exchange of gifts and sweets.

Geographical Spread

The observance and celebration of Ekadashi is especially visible in various parts of Nepal beginning with the Kathmandu valley, which is considered a spiritual center of Nepal. The festival unites people together in communal gatherings and people have found various ways of celebrating it.

The celebration of Ekadashi is also popular in the Western and the Mid-western part of Nepal including Pokhara, Dang, Surkhet, Butawal, Amargadhi, and Nepalganj. The cultural celebration of Dashain in Eastern Nepal, also known as Limbuwan, is also widely popular and people from years have incorporated special rituals in the observation and celebration of Ekadashi.

The celebration of Ekadashi has experienced a change and adaptation as people have now started to organize events, fairs, and functions in the rural residential areas as well as in the Kathmandu. People also observe 10 days long program featuring various cultural and religious events.

Modern Day Observations

In modern times, Ekadashi (Dashain) has become an occasion to exhibit and display the finer aspects of Nepalese culture, tradition and heritage. In the digital age, people have taken up modern ways to observe the day. Evaluating the present lifestyle, people have incorporated modern forms of celebration such as search programs, live music, and talks. There is also great use of digital platforms and mediums to not only promote the event but also use the digital platforms to reach out to more people.

In contemporary times, people of all castes and religions have started to come together to celebrate the festival of Dashain in its customary way. It has become an occasion to make new friends, share each other’s culture, build relationships, and tied together by a common thread of togetherness.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• Ekadashi can fall twice in a month.
• Ekadashi is the 11th day after the full moon or the 11th day after the new moon.
• Ekadashi is celebrated to pay tribute to Ishwa।, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
• Ekadashi is one of the best Hindu vratas to reduce gaping.
• The day of Ekadashi is considered very auspicious to offer prayers, charity and gifts.
• Observing Ekadashi fasting is believed to insulate one from the curse of death.
• It is believed that Baldev (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) was born on Ekadashi.
• Most temples are open on Ekadashi and special worship and ritual meetings are conducted.
• The most important Gods to be prayed to on Ekadashi are Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
• Coconut and Tulsi leaves are considered holy and are offered at the temple on Ekadashi.

Holiday Wishes

• May your festive enthusiasm rise to the sky like the flame of Ekadashi.
• May the bells of Ekadashi bring joy in your life.
• Wishing you happiness, joy, and prosperity on this auspicious day of Ekadashi.
• May the divine grace of Lord Vishnu make this Ekadashi beautiful and meaningful for you.
• May your prayers on this holy day be granted by the almighty lord.

Holiday Messages

• Let us keep the flame of the festivity burning and spread happiness all around.
• May the full moon of Ekadashi bring wisdom in your life.
• Wishing you a prosperous Ekadashi and a beautiful future.
• May you experience the joy of spiritual enlightenment with the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
• Wishing you a joyous and meaningful Ekadashi celebration with your family and friends.

Holiday Quotes

• “May the lamp of wisdom light your path this Ekadashi.”
• “May the Lord bless you with abundant joy on Ekadashi.”
• “Be blessed with wisdom, love, and kindness on Ekadashi!”
• “On this joyous day of Ekadashi, wishing you peace, blessings, and joy.”
• “Let the spiritual brightness of Ekadashi guide you in the path of truth and joy.”

Other Popular Holiday Info

Apart from its religious significance, Ekadashi (Dashain) is also celebrated as an occasion for family and friends gathering, music and dance, family feasts, and a sense of communal harmony. People also tend to clean and decorate their surroundings with colorful decorations such as lanterns, colorful strings, and flowers to create a festive atmosphere.

The observance also provides an opportunity for the entire family to be together in a time of prayer. This practice of a collective kula puja (family worship) brings family together as the young ones get an opportunity to learn the value of rituals, traditions, and culture. Overall, Ekadashi (Dashain) is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Nepal and the reverence for this festival has only evolved over time.