Dasain is the main festival of Sanatan religious people. It is called by various names like Vijayadashami, Badadasain, Mohani Dussehra etc.

As mentioned in the scriptures, it is customary to celebrate Dasain four times a year. In terms of season, Chaitedasain, which falls in the month of Chait in the spring season, and Big Dasain, which falls in October-October in autumn, are celebrated according to the classical tradition even today. In autumn  It is also called Sharadiya Dasain. Dasain is a festival of 15 days of fasting, rituals, prayers and blessings from the Asoj Shuklapaksha Pratipada to Purnima.

religious texts

There are many written scriptures of Sanatan Dharmavalambi . All the rituals, rites, worship and celebrations performed by the Sanatani are mentioned in the scriptures in one form or another. The incidents of the Goddess being praised, worshiped, and blessed after rigorous penance are presented in the form of dialogues, question-answers, stories, and screenplays in the ancient scriptures. Although there is a tradition of reciting both Chandi and Ramayana during Dasain, Durga Saptashati (Chandi) is recited at the place where Jamra is installed in the pujakotha. 

is a part of Chandi Markandeya Purana . Since it has 700 verses, it is called Saptashati Chandi. This Purana is called Markandeya Purana because Sage Markandeya himself and religious devotee shed light on various subjects. It has five parts, 137 chapters and 9000 verses and the importance of Durga is sung along with various topics. In the first part, Dharmapankshi has answered the questions asked by Rishi Jaimini about some incidents of Mahabharata. In the second part, the creation, origin, birth and rebirth of beings are highlighted.

In the third part, Markandeya has told his disciples the importance and method of worshiping the sun. In the fourth part, the worship of the goddess, Durga's character, the victory of truth over demonic tendencies, the origin of the goddess from the brilliance of all the gods, etc. The fifth part describes the genealogy of various dynasties. Thus, the fourth part of Markandeya Purana, which is divided into five parts, is Durga Saptashati. Based on Chandi, Chandimahatmya and Chandishataka texts are believed to have been composed in the sixth and seventh centuries respectively.

Various Puranas have been written at different times about the goddess' worship laws and majesty. Among them, based on Kalika Purana, Devi Purana, Durga Bhakti Trangini, Navratri Pradeep, Durga Puja Prabhat Tatva etc. are considered important. The praise of Arya Devi under the Vishnu Parva of Harivamsa is also recited in Devi Puja or during Apadvipad .

Durga Puja Vidhana

There are written instructions about the goddess' worship rituals and major days during Dasain.  Ghatastapana, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dashami and Kojagrat Purnima are worshiped with different rituals . 

Ghatasthapana

On the first day of Dasain, Navadurga is invoked with lamps, Kalash, Ganesha in pooja room, monastery, Dasainghar. Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati and Mahakali are worshiped in Kalash set on paddy-rice. All seas, rivers, shrines, clouds are praised as sitting in the Kalash .

The construction method of Kalash is described in detail in the book called Tantrasara . It is mentioned in the law to make Kalash with height of 16 fingers, middle of 36 fingers, mouth of 8 fingers and belly of 50 fingers from gold, silver and copper . It is said that the pot made from clay in Tantrasara is the holy and best pot.

Barley, wheat and corn that are scattered on soil, sand with chanting of mantras on the day of Ghatasthapana is called Jamra . Jamara is worshiped as Jamara Devi and is applied to the head as a prasad while receiving tika from the hands of dignitaries . Various forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped by all Hindus living in other parts of the world. The tradition of establishing and adopting Jamra is only for Nepalis. 

Saptami

Various religious activities are performed on the seventh day of Jamra, i.e. Phulpati day. There is a tradition of bringing nine types of flowers into the worship room on the day of Saptami. In the religious book, Navapatrika  Some names are - Banana plant, Ghar Haledo and Forest Haledo plant, Jayanti flower, Bell, Darim, Ashok, Manavriksha, Paddy field etc . All plants in nature have some medicinal properties.

In Dasainghar, Dasainkotha, after bringing in all these new papers, there is a feeling of being close to nature . In some Newar families, there is a tradition of bringing in the Navapatrika on Saptami day also on Ashtami. It is a custom to bring flowers brought from Gorkha to Dasainghar of Hanumandhoka Palace in a grand manner along with decorations and cannons. 

Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidatri are worshiped successively from the day of Ghatasthapana. On the day of Saptami, it is customary to offer animal sacrifices to Kalaratri Devi and Jamra Devi in ​​the room where Jamra is kept. In some families, fruits and vegetables are cut and offered as fragrant offerings. During Ashtami and Navami, there is a custom of offering animal sacrifice, bara and roti during the special worship of the goddess. 

At home, girls are worshiped as virgins and in Vasantpur, princesses are worshiped specially on Navami. In Kathmandu, Khat and Rath Yatra are performed in different ways, among which the chariot of the Kumari pulled on the day of Indra Jatra is considered special. 

Tika

On the tenth day of keeping Jamra, it is customary to offer Tika-Jamra as an offering to Durga. Dashami is the most important day of Badadasain. After anointing the water of the Kalash installed in the house, it is a custom to apply curd-akshata muche tika from gharmuli and apply it on the head. Blessings are also given when taking tika . After taking vaccination at home, go to mother's house, in-laws and relatives to take vaccination  The trend is . 

Kojagrat Purnima

On the fifteenth day of Dasain, on the day of Kojagrat Purnima, all the members of the family fast and enjoy and worship Lakshmi . Along with Goddess Lakshmi, Indradev is also worshiped on the full moon day. It is a tradition to stay awake all night with lights on as much as possible. 

On the full moon of Dasain, there is a tradition of worshiping the moon, offering kheer, milk and white flowers, white clothes . In this way, the Dasain festival ends with fun for 15 days.

Epilogue

During Dasain, along with book worship, the fun of Khadga Jatra is also done . By conveying the message that truth triumphs over falsehood, Dasain promotes faith in God, family values,   And entertainment is all inclusive. Dasain is a festival to gain strength by worshiping the goddess while showing respect for agriculture and the environment.