Dashain - Bada Dashain, Nepal's biggest and longest festival - is almost here. Fifteen days of goddess worship, family reunions, tika and jamara, new clothes, kites, and feasting. Whether you're in Kathmandu or Charlotte, here's everything you need for Dashain 2026.
Dashain 2026 key dates:
Day 1 - Ghatasthapana (barley seeds/jamara planted): Sun, Oct 11
Day 7 - Phulpati (sacred flowers and plants brought home): Sat, Oct 17
Day 8 - Maha Ashtami (sacred to Goddess Durga/Kali): Sun, Oct 18
Day 9 - Maha Navami (most sacred day of worship): Tue, Oct 20
Day 10 - Vijaya Dashami, Tika Day (auspicious tika time ~11:53 AM Nepal time): Wed, Oct 21
Day 15 - Kojagrat Purnima (full moon, festival ends): Sun, Oct 25
What is Dashain, really?
Dashain celebrates the victory of good over evil - the goddess Durga's triumph over the demon Mahishasura. But ask any Nepali and they'll tell you what it really is: the one time of year the whole family comes home. Elders place red tika and golden jamara (barley sprouts) on the foreheads of the younger generation, offering blessings and dakshina. New clothes, clean houses, bamboo swings (linge ping), kites on every rooftop, and the year's biggest feasts.
Celebrating Dashain in the US:
Find your community event. Nepali associations in most major US cities host Dashain gatherings - usually the weekend closest to October 21. Check the MeetNepali events section as dates are announced: https://meetnepali.com
Tika over video call counts. Can't fly home? Families everywhere now do tika over video call - elders bless from Kathmandu, you receive from your living room. It counts.
Get your supplies early. Jamara seeds, tika powder, and supari sell out at Nepali grocery stores in the weeks before Dashain. Shop early - find stores in our business directory: https://meetnepali.com/businesses
Cook the feast. Dashain means goat curry (khasi ko masu), sel roti, and a table full of achar. No time? Order in from a Nepali restaurant near you.
Take the day. Vijaya Dashami falls on a Wednesday this year - many families take Thursday and Friday off to make a long weekend of it.
Looking for a Dashain event near you? Browse events on MeetNepali - community gatherings are posted as they're announced: https://meetnepali.com
Log in to comment