Trekking in Nepal during Dashain Festival

Dashain Festival 

Dashain is the most significant and longest festival in Nepal, celebrated by Nepali Hindus for 15 days, typically in September or October. It honors the victory of good over evil, symbolized by the goddess Durga's triumph over the demon Mahishasura. Dashain also marks the harvest season, making it a time of abundance and gratitude. People establish Navadurga on the day of Gtasthapana and the Dashain festival bcomes more fascinating and exciting among the Hindus. 

The festival begins with Ghatasthapana, the planting of barley seeds that will grow into sacred jamara grass, symbolizing prosperity. Key rituals include animal sacrifices and offerings to Durga, particularly on the eighth and ninth days, Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day, is the most significant, where elders bless younger family members by applying tika (a mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermilion) and jamara on their foreheads, wishing them prosperity and protection.

Throughout Dashain, people travel to their hometowns to reunite with family, clean and decorate their homes, and indulge in feasts. New clothes are often worn, and kites are flown in celebration. Schools and businesses close, creating a festive, relaxed atmosphere. The festival emphasizes family bonds, cultural traditions, and the triumph of virtue.

After people receive tika on their forehead from elders, it is mandatory to play swing. It is believed that Dashain is the very time to to be free from worldly things being into the space while playing swing.

Significance of Dashain Festival

The Dashain festival, celebrated primarily in Nepal, holds deep cultural, religious, and social significance. Here are five key points about its importance:

1. Victory of Good over Evil: Dashain commemorates the triumph of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, symbolizing the victory of good over evil, light over darkness.

2. Family Reunion: It is a time for family gatherings, where people from all walks of life return to their ancestral homes to celebrate with loved ones, fostering family bonds. Even, the people from distant overseas retrun back to their homelands/hometowns to celebrate Dashain.

3. Blessings and Prosperity: Elders offer blessings (Tika and Jamara) to the younger generation, symbolizing prosperity, longevity, and success for the year ahead.

4. Cultural and Religious Unity: Although rooted in Hinduism, Dashain is widely celebrated by people of various religious backgrounds, promoting cultural harmony and togetherness in Nepal.

5. Agricultural Gratitude: Dashain aligns with the end of the harvest season, and it serves as a time to give thanks to the gods for a good harvest, ensuring food security and abundance.

6. Refreshment during the Holiday: People get 15 days long holiday during Dashain festival. It will be plenty of time to observe and celebrate Dashain festival by visiting relatives, spending quality of time with family members, travelling to their favorite destinations including trekking, hiking and other adventure activities. People also play cards, drinks, prepare variety of food items and enjoy with family and relatives. They don’t have any stress of works as they are in holiday and they can completely rejuvenate their energy with this huge celebrations throughout Dashain festival.

People work all round the year and make money to celebrate Dashain festival grandly with their family members and relatives.

From the day of Vijay Dashami or the day of Tika, people have 5 days to visit the family and the relatives to receive tika and the blessings and the final or the 5th day is called Kozagrat Purnima and the Dashain festival wraps till the next year. 

The merrymaking, playing cards among family and relatives, special dishes according to the enthic communities, sacrifices ( some people may not like it), getting red tika on the forehead and jamara( grown with seven seeds), enjoying the drinks (  especially local raksi), visiting holy Hindu temples and offering the prayers, playing swing and travelling with family and relatives are the major highlights of Dashain festival.

Do you know even Buddhists celebrate Dashain? Yes, they do. Some of the Buddhists do it as the Hindus do and rest of them do it in a distinct way. Some of the Buddhists, instead of putting red tika on the forehead, they put white tika and rest of the celebrations are similar. The ethnic people like Rai, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa and Tamang peple put white tika on their forehead and observe Dashain. 

Trekking in Nepal during Dashain Festival

Trekking in Nepal during Dashain, the country’s most significant festival, provides a distinct experience of adventure and cultural immersion. Dashain, celebrated for 15 days, marks the victory of good over evil, and the entire country bursts into festive joy. As you trek through the Himalayas during this time, you’ll witness villages adorned with vibrant prayer flags and locals in traditional attire, celebrating with rituals, feasts, and gatherings. The sense of community is palpable, and as a trekker, you may even be invited to join in festivities, receive blessings, or taste special festival dishes like sel roti or mutton curry. This interaction brings a deeper cultural connection to your trekking experience.

The trekking routes themselves, whether through the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp or the Everest Base Camp, become even more enchanting during Dashain. The skies are often clear in early October, providing mesmerizing views of snow-capped peaks, green valleys, and terraced fields. The trails are slightly quieter than usual as many Nepali guides and porters return home to celebrate with their families, giving you a more tranquil trekking experience. However, local teahouses remain open, offering warmth and hospitality.

For trekkers who enjoy combining adventure with cultural experiences, Dashain adds a magical dimension to the journey. You’ll not only explore some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes but also get a glimpse into the heart of Nepali tradition and spirituality. Whether you’re ascending a steep mountain pass or resting in a local village, the spirit of Dashain surrounds you, making it a trek to remember.

Can people from other religious backgrounds celebrate Dashain festival? 

Yes, they can. It is open to all that even Non-Hindus, it means. Buddhists, Muslims and even Christinas can celebrate Dashain festival. For example, the foreign tourists are in Nepal during Dashain festival as it is peak trekking season in Nepal and thye love joining in the celebrations with receiving tika on their forehead.  Actually, it is not mandatory, but if any non-Hindus want to participate in the celebrations of Dashain festival, they can do it voluntarily and have lots of fun during trekking in Nepal. 

Is is good to do trekking during Dashain festival? 

Yes, it’s good idea to decide doing a trekking in Nepal during Dashain festival as your trip becomes more fascinating and will be full of merrymaking and excitements with new charms of festivities all round the trip. You can witness and participate in celevations with local people and your trekking team, guide and porter during the trekking trip in the mountain. You will trunly have a unique experience of trekking in Nepal if you plan to do trekking or any other tours and adventure activities in Nepal during Dashain Festival. 

For this, one requires inquiring about when Dashain fall according to Nepali calendar and plan for this. Dashain falls between October and November. As Autumn, the months of Sept, Oct and Nov, is the best trekking season in Nepal, one can find the best option of trekking during Dashain festival. 

Is Dashain festival the peak trekking time of the year? 

Yes, it is. Since Dashain festival falls between Oct and Nov in Autumn, the best trekking months in Nepal, Dashain festival is the peak trekking season in Nepal and Nepalese Hindus have festive moods. 

Actually, Dashain festival mainly falls in October and October is the best trekking month of the year which falls in Autumn season. The combination of October, the best month for trekking in Nepal and the greatest festival of Nepali Hindus make one’s trekking trip and any other holiday activities in Nepal more memorable and holds special legacy. 

Can I get guide and porter if I do trekking during Dashain festival? 

Yes, you can hire guide and porter for your trekking during Dashain festival. Actually, what happens in the life of trekking crew in Nepal is: they normally give up their Dashain celebtations with their family and relatives and they do love observing it with their guests/tourists in the mountain. So, if you are planning your trekking in Nepal or any other activities in Nepal for holidays, you can easily get the trip crew inlduing guide and porter for trekking and climbing. 

Frankly telling, guide and porter are ready to work for you even during Dashain, but they expect something special from you like tip as they have given up their festival celebration with their family and friends. Consider this if you are making a holiday trip in Nepal in the month of October when Dashain festival falls. 

What is the significance of trekking in Nepal during Dashain Festival? 

Trekking in Nepal during the Dashain Festival which falls in the month of Octover, offers a unique blend of adventure and cultural immersion. Dashain, the most significant Hindu festival in Nepal, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and is marked by grand celebrations, family gatherings, and temple visits. Goddess Durga is worshipped all over Dashain festival. For trekkers, the trails and local villages receive festive moods with swings and special local cusines to enjoy. Alos, the trekkers can participate in the celebrations of Dashain festival if they want. Even the non Hindus can observe and do a direct participation in the activities of celebrations. The weather is ideal, with clear skies offering stunning views of the Himalayas. Trekkers can witness vibrant cultural festivities, interact with locals, and experience traditional rituals, adding a cultural layer to the already breathtaking treks like the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp.