The Gods’ Dashain
Summary
The Dashain festival in the Far-Western hills of Nepal involves traditional rituals at temples like Ugratara, with unique local customs including ceremonial worship, community gatherings, and annual fairs at Shakti shrines.
Key Points
- Dashain in Far-Western Nepal begins with planting jamara at temples and household shrines and involves traditional rituals at Ugratara Temple and other Shakti shrines.
- The festival features processions, exchanges of tika, and offerings such as bells, swords, and lamps, reflecting a two-way dialogue between gods and humans.
- Dashain is considered 'the gods’ Dashain' in this region, where households fast until receiving tika from deities and perform postponed auspicious ceremonies without permission.
- Modern changes like migration and the decade-long armed conflict have influenced the decline of some traditional religious practices during Dashain in the Far-West.
