An Essay on ‘Festival Celebrated in Our Community’
Festival Celebrated in our Community – As Nepali is a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious, and multi-ethnic country, many festivals are celebrated throughout the year. There are many festival celebrated in our community such as Dashain, Tihar, Holi, Teej, etc. Among them, I like the Dashain festival most. It is observed for ten days. So this festival is known as Dashain. It is usually observed in the month of Aswin. Dashain is observed as a sign of victory of good over evil. According to our Hindu epic, goddess Bhagawati killed the Mahisashur and Ram killed Ravan. So this festival is celebrated every year in this memory.
Ghatasthapana is the first day of the Dashain. On this day, People bring sand from the holy river and put it in the corner of the room. Then the maize or barley is sown. The young plant is known as Jamara which is used on the tenth day. The most important days are the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. The seventh day is known as Fulpati. The eighth and ninth days are known as Mahaastami and Mahanawami. On these days, he-goats, cocks, ducks, and he-buffaloes are sacrificed in every home and Durga temples. It is done to please goddess Bhagawati. The tenth day is the most important day of all. This day is also known as Vijaya Dashami. On this day, juniors receive tika and jamara from who are superiors to them in relation. Superiors also give blessings of long life and prosperity to the juniors. The people who are far away also come to their homes to observe the Dashain festival. So Dashain festival is also known as the festival of unity.
All the people whether they are rich or poor, observe Dashain with great joy. The houses are cleaned and decorated. The children wear new clothes and play on swings. They also fly kites. People eat delicious food and feed their near and dear ones.
Some people spend the money unnecessarily by taking loans and can’t pay later. This should be discouraged. We should not spend money more than our capacity. Some play cards and lose their property. Some persons drink alcohol and fight with others. Celebrating the festival with harmony among the people is the identity of Nepalese people.