Chaite Dasain is celebrated every year on the day of Chaitra Shukla Ashtami, today Nepali people are celebrating Nava Durga Bhagwati from house to house. There are four Navratras in a year. Navratri, which falls on Ashadha and Paush Shukla aspects, is not very popular. Some sadhaks also worship Goddess Shakti during Navratri of Ashadha and Paush Shukla Pakshas.
In Navratri of Ashwin Shukla Paksha, Jamra is kept from the day of Pratipada. That is why the Dasai of Ashwin Shukla Paksha is called Badadasai. On the Dashami Tithi day of Badadasain, Tika and Jamra are applied by the well-wishers. This sequence continues till Ashwin Shukla Purnima.
On Chaite Dasai, that tradition is not in many families. In the Dasainghar of Hanumandhoka, there is also a custom of offering sacrifices on the day of Ashtami along with regular worship. Ashtami and Navami are specially celebrated on Chaite Dasai. Ashtami day is Chaite Dasain and Navami is celebrated as Rama Navami because Lord Ram was born as the eldest son of King Dasharatha and Queen Kaushalavati of Ayodhya in Treta Yuga.
Like Badadasai, the main purpose of Chaite Dasai worship is to take blessings for happiness and peace in this world and good fortune in the hereafter. Like Badadasai, there is a gathering among family members on Chaite Dasai.
Guhyeshwari, Jagwageshwari, Maitidevi, Naxal Bhagwati, Bhadrakali, Shobha Bhagwati, Kalikasthan, Bajrayogini, Indrayani, Bijeshwari, Sundarimai, Chamundadevi and other Peethas of the valley have special pooja on the occasion of Chaite Dasai.
Similarly, special puja is performed on the occasion of Chaitra Navratri at Palanchok Bhagwati, Chandeshwari, Nala Bhagwati, Palchok Bhagwati, Shaileshwari, Wageshwari, Gahwamai, Manakamana, Kalikadevi and other shaktipiths outside the valley. On the occasion of this festival also known as Chaitra Navratri, there is a religious belief that if you go to the Shaktipeeth and worship and do darshan, you will get power and your wishes will be fulfilled.
Special Puja and Durga Saptashati (Chandi) are being recited in Dasain houses since Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. Dasainghar, which was under the Narayanhiti Rajdarbar until 2063, is then under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
