Bada Dashain is a festival of power worship. Its importance is special in our agricultural country with diverse language and culture. Geographically, jamara is not used in the mountainous region. Even if they do not observe the festival, they still believe in power and worship it. Durga is worshiped in the mountains, just as Buddhists in the Himalayas worship Palden Lhamo, or Chamunda. They also do lama calling, drinking alcohol, playing jhyali etc. Religiously Christians and Muslims do not celebrate. Otherwise, Dashain is celebrated with pomp and circumstance in the entire hills and Madhes.
In ancient times, it was customary for all castes to celebrate Dashain by worshiping Shakti according to their own traditions. In recent times, Hindu law has prevailed. As a result of the ruling power, the Hindu method has also affected the tribal community. This method was especially popular as the Thakuri kings expanded their kingdom. The king lived in a Kot. Mir Umra lived in the Kots where the king did not sit. There were forts. There were doormen, chiefs and talukdars in the village. There were four or five tols in one village. There were chiefs and talukdars in each group. In some tols there were up to two or three talukdars. Such a unit of talukdars was called Jhutta, it was the then administrative unit. At this time, king's teacher was called Dharmadhikari. On the day of fulpati, it was customary for the king of Bada Guruju to hold water in the palace and the chief priest to worship Dashain as a resolution. It was customary for the Mir-Umra of Kot to be the representative of the state in Kot without a king, Gadhi Gowda, for the village headman-talukdar to fetch water, and for the Brahmin priest to be the representative of Dharmadhikari. In the fort, the village chiefs, the talukdars were not only Brahmins and Kshatriyas, but Gurung, Magar, Rai and Limbu were also there.
A festival from time immemorial
From time immemorial, the tribal community has been celebrating the Dashain. But, the method was different. For example, in the present Gorkha, there were three states called Tallokot, Majhkot and Upallokot. Ghale was the king in the Tallokot and the Uppallkot. Khadka was the king of Majhkot. They were Magars, not Khadka Chhetri. At that time, the members of the Lig-Lig used to have a feast on the river Chepe on the day of tika on Bada dashain and have racing after tika. It was customary to be the king who reached the kot first.
Some Gurungs, Magars, Rai-Limbus put white tika nowadays. Some are protesting the red tika. But, when the sacrifice is worshiped, then no matter what the animal sacrifices, the blood is first spilled in the temple, then on the akshata on the plate. It is customary for Gurung, Magar and Rai Limbu to administer the tika.
This is how the tradition of the Ghales celebrating the Dashain started. Gurung still worships pitr on the day of fulpati. There is a tradition that one should offer bhog to pitr before eating meat and rice. They go to the forest outside the village on the morning of fulpati and worship Vayu. After paying homage to Vayu, that is, his aggrieved pitr, saying, 'Come on the Dashain, eat and drink,' it is customary for him to eat meat and rice. Similarly, on the day of Kalaratri, the Gurungs worship in their own way by calling Jhankri, Ghabri, Lama. Then, after the Dashain tika, they visit at Pandi (astrologer) place which is called Ana-mana. Ana-mana is the act of finding the genealogy by keeping one ana of money, one mana of rice and alcohol. Pandi says genealogy. Genealogy is a story of pride. The day of listening to the genealogy is the day of the Dashain commence.
Distinguish between red tika and white tika
Some Gurungs, Magars, Rai-Limbus put white tika nowadays. Some are protesting against the red tika. But, when the sacrifice is worshiped, then no matter what the animal sacrifices, the blood is first spilled in the temple, then on the akshata on the plate. It is customary for Gurung Magar and Rai Limbu to administer the tika. Now there is a difference between white tika and red tika. The Gurungs and Magars began to say that this tradition of putting red tika was not ours, but that of the Brahmins. However, the Brahmins are not a slaughtering caste. Gurung, Magar and Rai Limbu are the castes who sacrifice and kill. Therefore, they should not say that the red tika is not ours because it is soaked in the blood. Even now in Dullu Dailekh, Khas Brahmins do not apply red tika, they apply yellow tika by mixing curd rice and turmeric. Most of the Khas Brahmins are in Dailekh. For example, there is a place called Rijupokhara in Dullu. Riju became Rijal, Pokhara became Pokhrel. This is an example. The fact that the yellow tika is still used in the ancient sacks of the Khas Brahmins proves that it was not customary to wear the red tika before the sacrificial worship.
A fusion of diverse cultures
The Aryan race has the distinctive ability to embrace the culture and traditions, to embrace the language and to Sanskritize it after moving to a certain place. For example, we call the river Gandaki a Sanskrit word. But, it is not a Sanskrit language. In the Magar language, it was called 'Gandi', meaning 'green water'. Gandaki has become degenerate. The Koshi River is also said to have been named after the sage Kaushiki or Kushik. Not so. In the ancient Kirat language, water was called khu river. For example, there is a place called Samakhusi in Kathmandu. He became Sanskritized out of happiness. Thus the Aryans Sanskritized the language and culture. Chalan-chalti was also Sanskritized or Aryanized. At present, Pashupati has a sign board for Hindus only. But who discovered Pashupati? This is what Mex Kirats discovered. Here, too, there was a gradual Aryanization.
The same thing happened to the Dashain. Various cultures were adopted by the Aryans. Now some people think that this is a festival and ritual of the Brahmins. But, this is everyone's festival. Indigenous Bhumiputras have a close relationship with nature. That is why the practice of worshiping stones, worshiping water sources, worshiping at the base of trees, etc. has been going on since time immemorial. For example, Gurung has a tradition of depositing money since time immemorial. The ancient Khol and the present-day Pas village are examples of this. A Gurung from Manang has been hunting in Khol village at the foot of Lamjung Himal. Oh, he thought it was such a good place, so he wanted to test the soil to see if it was suitable for settlement. For that, they scattered some of the Uva seeds they had. By the next year, Uva would have become an earring of one hand. It was said that there would be farming and people would settle here. Depositing is a test of the soil. Paddy seeds in Pas village of Lamjung are not kept directly in the beds. According to the site given by Pandi, the Gurungs of the village take it to the Duna-Tapari store, sprinkle it with gold water and worship it, till the soil and put seeds in it. The same seed is then mixed with other seeds and placed in a bed. Such a tradition is still alive. However, some Gurungs say that Jamara is not our tradition, such a problem is seen due to lack of understanding.
Today's young generation seeks science in everything. Old age makes it difficult for them to explain science, so they call it bigotry and superstition. But our festivals are very scientific.
Dashain of Manang
The rituals and customs of celebrating the Dashain are also different. In the Himalayan district of Manang, there is no tika. But the Gurungs there gather and slaughter the sheep on the day of the Dashain tika and drink the wine. However, this trend started much later. this is just done for the sake of king. Because the king had given special autonomy and freedom to the Manangs. After the abolition of taluki practice in 2022 BS, the law of the Government of Nepal has been implemented there. Otherwise, before that, after paying the annual fee, they would not have to obey the laws of Nepal. At that time, ordinary Nepalis did not get passports to go abroad for business. Most of the Nepalis did not go abroad except to be recruited in the Gurkha platoon. However, Manangs were still allowed to do business in Singapore and Malaya, they could get a passport. Having so many privileges, they gather on the day of the Dashain tika for the sake of king.
Dashain's scientific part
Today's young generation seeks science in everything. Old age makes it difficult for them to explain science, so they call it bigotry and superstition. But our festivals are very scientific. Let me give you an example: The effect of the hailstorm is that the farmer who is stuck in the mud, covered in the rain, and sleeping in the mud, does not get good food. At this time, farmers are like fish caught. To survive the winter, they eat meat and rice for decades. In particular, broth is considered meat. Playing swing helps in digestion. Eating too much meat at one time causes indigestion, diarrhea or other diseases. That's why they play ping pong with fun. The muscles that are dry during the rainy season are activated. The addictions that linger are stretched. This is very scientific.
Importance of Navratri
There are four Navratras in a year. The Dashain also happens in Pus, also in Chait, also in Asar. But, autumn Durga Puja is Bada Dashain. It is believed that the goddess is especially happy to worship at this time. To understand the worship of Navratra from Pratipada to Navami, we need to understand its importance. Night is darkness. Darkness is infatuation, lust, lust or attachment. We worship Navratri to remove the attachment of the nine pores of our body. Removing the attachment within us means strengthening the holes. For example, the eyes may have sinned, the mind may have evil thoughts, injustice-oppression may come. After overcoming such attachments and attachments by worshiping continuously for nine days, the holes become stronger and cleaner. This is the worship of Nava Durga even though various legends and stories are being made over time. In the end, may the great tithe of 2078 BS bring wisdom to all Nepalis, end the global corona epidemic, maintain political stability in the country, and be happy.
(Translated from Nepali to English)
From: https://ratopati.com/story/203135/2021/10/14/jagman-gurung-dashain-?utm_source=pocket_mylist
By: Dr. Jagman Gurung
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