Category: festivals

Dashain Swing

People having fun with a swing (Ping) along the banks of the Vishnumati River in Kathmandu

Swing, Dashain

 

Children playing with a Dashain swing near a village along the road from Nagarkot to Sankhu in Kathmandu valley.

swing or ping

Bamboo swings are constructed in many parts of Nepal as a way of celebration. They are called ‘ping’ in Nepali.
A ping will be constructed a week before Ghatasthapana and dismantled after the festival of Tihar. They are especially famous with children, but adults are also seen playing on the swings.

Tika, Vijaya Dashami, Dashain

Nepali boy and girl buying bananas at Ason chowk. They have a tika on their forehead, given by their parents on the occassion of Vijaya Dashami, Dashain festival.

dashain tika

Tika and jamara

(Dashain) Tika is made of rice grains mixed with red vermillion powder into a paste form by mixing curd. The result is put on the forehead as auspicious mark and blessings.
Similarly, Jamara is the seedlings of barley grown at specially anointed altar at home that is put behind the ears as the auspicious item of goddess Nawa Durga Bhawani.
It is customary for the Hindus to receive Tika and Jamara from their seniors on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami.

Sky full of kites – Dashain

Kites fill the air above Kathmandu

kite flying Dashain

During the Dashain festival many children (and adults as well) can be seen flying kites. Kite flying is a popular activity around Dashain.

One reason for flying kites is the believe that kites send a message to Indra (god of rain) to stop the rain. It is also believed that kites bring prosperity to the family, are a way to contact your ancestors or guide souls to heaven.

Besides that it is a good and funny way to pass the time during the holidays.


Swasthani festival in Sankhu

Women all dressed in red are throwing rice during a ritual during the Swasthani festival in Sankhu.

Woman and child during Swosthani festival in Sankhu

Woman performing a ritual during the Swosthani festival on the banks of the holy Sali Nadi river in Sankhu while her child is watching.


Car being worshipped during Maha Navami

Car being worshipped with navapatrika (nine plants- banana, dadim (Pomegranate), dhanko bala (rich stalk), haledo (turmeric plant), manabriksha, kachuki, belpatra (wood apple), ashok, and jayanti) on Maha Nawami, the ninth and one of the main days of Dashain festival.

 

maha navami dashain

 

The same applies to this motor cycle


Patan Durbar Square Dashain festival

Crowded Patan Durbar Square during festivities on the occassion of Dashain festival in Nepal

Of course this picture has been taken before the 2015 earthquakes which destroyed a lot a beautiful historic buildings.

Crowd gathering for the Indra Jatra festival at Durbar Square in Kathmandu

Large crowds gathering at Durbar Square in Kathmandu for the Indra Jatra festival and the blessing of the king by Kumari, the living goddess.

indra jatra

Women dancing at Pashupatinath during the Teej festival

Women dancing during the Teej festival at Pashupatinath in the Kathmandu Valley.

Women dancing during Teej

Women celebrating the Teej festival

Picture of women celebrating the Teej festival at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu.

Teej Festival