Happy Dashain!!

[Imua 0]

Dashain begins

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KATHMANDU, Oct 12 - The "Navaratri Parba" or Badadashain, the greatest festival of the Nepalese, commenced Friday. On the first day of Dashain, "Ghatasthapana", all Nepalese worship Diyo (an oil-fed lamp), Kalash (auspicious jar) and lord Ganesh in accordance with Vedic rituals and sow maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination of the auspicious Jamara (barley shoots). Prayers are also offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power. There is also a tradition of sacrificing animals while initiating the germination of the "Jamara". Also, prayers are offered to goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasaraswati at the Dashain Ghar, marking the beginning of the Navaratri (nine nights).

Posted on: 2007-10-11 21:49:56 (Server Time)

from ekantipur.com

Fortunately G's family are vegetarian and don't sacrifice animals...poor goats!

I feel like crying because for Nepalis this time is like Christmas when families get together and Govi feels lonely, traditionally if you are newlywed then this is the time when his grandparents would celebrate our marriage and welcome me into the family, and I am not there... His grandfather is 86 and G doesn't know how much more time he has left... I will hopefully meet him next spring but it's not the same as being there for Dashain, unfortunately even if I had the vaca time and money available I work at a college and it's the busiest time for us...

[second stage 14]

KATHMANDU, Oct 12 - The "Navaratri Parba" or Badadashain, the greatest festival of the Nepalese, commenced Friday.

I can understand being with family and grandparents on festivals and religious occasions esp if they are into their 80s and 90s...I hope you can join your husband soon!

My prayers with you

[ELW 5]

Happy Dasara! :dance:

I remember while in India, I used to sit all 10 days for the big elaborate pujas with many priests each grouped around different homas/ fire pits, usually starting at 6AM and going to nearly 12 noon. It was sooo grea being immersed in all those yummy mantras for so many hours!

And yes even in India there are many family traditions around that time, especially for newlyweds. Sorry you can't be with your hubby's family during this time. But all of you are connected in heart and prayers.

[maya62 7]

Happy Dashain, Nepali satthis!

Our son misses this festival time, too... being off from school, going back to the village to play with friends and go to family gatherings, eating meat (he's a carnivorous creature... lol). But this is also the time of year when the Buddhists pray for all the animals that are being sacrificed. I've missed it twice on fall visits to Nepal, but have seen traces of blood still here and there (like on the front of the mini-van we took to go to their village).

There were some brief Dashain prayers on Radio Dovan yesterday (a one-hour Nepali radio show originating in DC on Sunday afternoons).

D&G, you are together in spirit, and with the help of Ganesh, you will be together next Dashain. We are completely sympathetic... S's parents are quite elderly, too (in their early 80's). Here's hoping things go smoothly and you are back in Nepal again soon (for an interview!).

Best wishes,

Maya

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[pbgirl 1]

Happy Navaratri! Get those dandia sticks out!

And Diwali is coming up soon too...