Dashain is the longest and most important Nepal Festival (Festival Nepali) before Tihar. Spread over September or October, depending on the lunar calendar, Dashain sees Nepalese from all around the globe return to their home towns and villages to join in the celebrations that mark the end of the harvest and are supposed to remove all ill-fortune. Learn all about the most important festival Nepali and when is Dashain 2026.
Another name for the festival is Dasha-hara; dasha means ill-fortune and hara to remove or take away. The festival also stresses the importance of the family.
The most important days of Dashain are the first, the seventh to 10th, and the last. The celebration is highly controversial as it traditionally involves the slaughter of goats and buffaloes.
Dashain and Tihar are the two most important Nepal festivals. Tihar is also known as Yamapanchak Deepawali, which is similar to the Hindu festival of Diwali, and celebrated in October to November.
Legend of Dashain
The Dashain Festival is said to celebrate the victory of good over evil, specifically the triumph of Parvati (or Durga).
The first nine days of the festival commemorate the battle between the warrior goddess and the demon Mahishasura, whom she eventually vanquished on the tenth day. However, for other Hindus, Dashain actually celebrates the triumph of Ram against Ravan, as depicted in the Ramayana.
Tika and Ping
Playing of the traditional Malshree dhun marks the start of the festivities, which are characterised by people dubbing children’s foreheads with tika, a mixture of rice, yoghurt and vermillion, for good luck, as well as flying kites.
However, for many the highlight of Dashain is the series of giant bamboo swings, or ping, that are assembled across the country. Taking a swing on the ping is said to take away ill-feelings and rejuvenate the swingers, although it is something not recommended for those with an aversion to heights.
In recent years the festival has courted controversy due to the high number of animals, especially buffaloes and goats, that are sacrificed during the celebrations. But Dashain remains a wonderful, colourful expression of rejuvenation and a celebration of the family. It is a must for anyone travelling to Nepal to experience true Nepali language and culture.
On certain days 54 goats and 54 buffaloes are sacrificed in Hanumandhoka Durbar Square. In 2019 it is estimated that more than 14,000 goats were sacrificed.
Nepal is a wonderful country to visit, read Travel Begins at 40’s ‘Essential Travel Guide to Nepal Holidays for the Over 40s’.
When is Dashain Nepal Festival?
If you are wondering when is Dashain 2026. The festival Nepali starts on 11 October 2026, although the celebrations will be spread over a wider period of time, so it’s a good idea to brush up on your lunar calendar before booking your flights.
Dashain 2026 Dates and Main Celebrations
Dashain 2026 will be celebrated from 11 October to 21 October 2026, beginning with Ghatasthapana and ending with Bijaya Dashami, the festival’s most important day. Across Nepal, families gather to honour the triumph of good over evil through a series of religious ceremonies and family traditions.
Ghatasthapana – 11 October 2026
The festival opens with Ghatasthapana, when households establish a sacred space for worship and sow barley seeds in a vessel filled with sand or soil. These seeds grow into Jamara, yellow-green shoots that are regarded as a symbol of prosperity and are distributed to family members during the closing tika ceremony.
Fulpati – 17 October 2026
Fulpati marks the seventh day of Dashain. Fresh flowers, leaves and other sacred offerings are brought to homes and temples as part of the worship of Goddess Durga. One of the day’s best-known traditions is the ceremonial procession from Gorkha, which attracts large crowds and has long been an important part of the national celebrations.
Maha Ashtami – 18 October 2026
On Maha Ashtami, devotees pay tribute to Durga in her fierce manifestation as Goddess Kali, representing strength and the destruction of evil. In some parts of Nepal, traditional animal sacrifices are still performed, while elsewhere worshippers make symbolic offerings instead.
Maha Navami – 19 October 2026
The ninth day is dedicated to seeking blessings for the tools, machinery and vehicles people rely on in their daily lives. Businesses, workshops and households often perform special prayers, asking for protection, safety and success in the year ahead.
Bijaya Dashami (Tika) – 21 October 2026
The final day of Dashain is Bijaya Dashami, when families reunite to receive tika from their elders. The tika is made from a mixture of rice, yoghurt and vermilion powder and is placed on the forehead as a blessing for happiness, good fortune and long life. Elders also present Jamara along with dakshina, usually a gift of money, as a symbol of their love, blessings and best wishes for the future.
Where is Dashain Nepal Festival Celebrated?
Dashain is celebrated in Nepal and parts of Bhutan and Myanmar, and in India where it is called Durga Puja.
Nepal Photography Tours
The photographs you can see here are provided by Nathan Horton, who runs photography tours across South and Southeast Asia, including two to Nepal, one of which coincides with the Dashain Festival. For more details of the tour, click here.
For more information on the Dashain Nepal Festival
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