Chaite Dashain – The Last Festival of Nepali Calendar

Dashain is the biggest festival of Nepali and Hindus all around the world. It is celebrated in the months of September – October and also in the months March – April. The Dashain that celebrated in March – April is known as Chaite Dashain. Nepali people follow Bikram Sambhat (BS) Calendar and Chiatra (which falls in the month of March and April) which is the last month of the Nepali calendar. So, this calendar is named after the month Chaitra when the festival falls on. However, the Dashain that falls in September – October is the main biggest festival in Nepal. It is also known as Bada Dashain or the big Dashain festival.

Chaite Dashain falls of the day of Ashtami and the very next days is celebrated at Ram Navami. There is big fair in Ram Janaki Temple of Janakpur, in this Ram Navami. There are several mythology behind to celebrate Chaitra Dashain in Ashtami because this is known as exactly half a year. Moreover, this festival is the last festival in Nepali calendar. Other names of this festivals are Chaitra-Ashtami or Sano Dashain.

It is said that Chaitra Dashain used to be the greatest festival in Nepal. But people got several diseases in summer eating different and big amount of foods. So they transfer this festival in the mid or spring season when weather is good and and climate gives joy to celebrate.

People worship the goddess Durga as a symbol of power, prosperity and victory of good over evil. Likewise, they also sacrifices animal mostly goats, water buffalo, chicken and ducks as offering to the goddesses. Worshiping goddesses Durga and animals offering (sacrifices) take place in Hindus temples of Maa Durga Bhawani. This sacrificed take place in Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Durbar square at Bhaktapur. People visit the temples of Goddess Durga and also worship her at home.