The Richness of Nepali culture

RICHNESS OF THE NEPALI CULTURE

Dusshera, the most awaited festival, injects a new lease of life into the residents of Dajeeling(India) every year.
Dusshera is popularly known as Dashain(according to the Nepali calendar) in Darjeeling. It is one of the longest and the most auspicious festival celebrated in Darjeeling. It is celebrated by all castes and religion in Darjeeling.
People paint and beautifully decorate their house during Dashain. New curtains, flowers of various kinds are brought from the market to decorate the interiors of the house. It is painted as an invitation to goddess Durga, so that she visits the house and blesses it with good fortune (it is just a belief which is mostly followed in Darjeeling).
The first nine days of Dashain is collectively called Nawa ratri. It is considered to be very religious day where many religious rites and process takes place. The first day of dashain is called “ghatasthapana”. It is on this day that the pot or locally referred as lota is kept in the room where the image of Goddess Durga has been kept. This room is also known as Dashain Ghar. The local religious priest P.Dahal said “These rituals are slowly fading away and people are not following it seriously too. It’s a matter of concern because the younger generation is not learning from their ancestors about it.”
The most awaited day is the 7th day of dashain. It is called fulpati. It is on this day that people from different places walk upto a common place called Chowrastha in their traditional attire as a form of religious procession. They rejoice by singing, dancing to the local tunes played by the local tribes.
Dashmi is the tenth day of Dashain .During this day relatives who stay far away from their elder ones come and meet them. The elders bless them by applying tika on their forehead. The tika is made up of rice (uncooked) and pink colour powder. It has to be mixed with jamara. The holy water placed in a pot is covered with a cowdung, to which seeds are sown. On the 10th day the seeds placed, grow upto three to five inches long yellow grass. This yellow sacred grass is called jamara.
The tika is also mixed with curd to make it sticky. Before anyone applies tika it is very important that this tika should be applied on the top of the main entrance of the house symbolizing protection to the family from all harm and evil. As a blessing to the younger ones, elders in the family give some money along with the blessings.
The Buddhists and the Christians use white tika . Prashanna tamang, a Buddhist who observes this festival said “we apply white tika as a sign of peace for the years to come”. Roseline rai , a Christian says “ We are often invited in the neighbourhood to celebrate dashain and they put tika on our forehead, which makes us feel great to be a part of the festival”
After the blessings have been received by everyone, food is served to the family members. It basically is a non-vegetarian meal. Shopkeepers enjoy a huge amount of profit as people buy new clothes in huge numbers. Long queues in the ATM are a regular feature.
Wangyal a jeans and a tee shirts retailer say “I wish Dashain would come at least two to three times a year. It is during this time that my sales go up by 100%”. It is not only these garments store that earn high profits, but the butchers and the restaurants earn on the same lines.
The way Dashain is celebrated in Darjeeling is different compared to how it is done in other states of the country. The rituals are different. In Darjeeling many sheep’s, goats, ducks, chicken and buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. In other parts of the country the Ramayana is staged. It is called the ram Lila.
People do not have a clear understanding of these rituals, but still it is followed. These rituals are awaiting their death and no one is even willing to learn especially the youth.