Grand community Dashain Ghar comes up in Itahari

Itahari – Giving continuity to more than two decades long practice, the local authority and the local residents of Itahari have set up the Dashain Ghar, a place where people from all castes and communities come together to observe the biggest festival of Nepalis - Dashain. 

On the first day of the10-day Dashain Festival, they planted Jamara (mixture of various type of grains such as rice, maize, barley and sesame) in the Dashain Ghar as per the established rituals. 

The local authority in association with the local temples and trusts have been setting up temporary Dashain Ghar (a home to observe Dashain festival) for the past 20 years where the locals from all caste and communities come together in celebration of the Dashain festival. 

Aimed at fostering communal harmony and amity, a grand Dashain Ghar this year too was set up by Itahari Sub-Metropolitan City in Sunsari district in support of the various local temples and trust. 

Several bhajan-kirtan (hymns) singing teams, set up in all 20 wards of the Sub-Metropolitan City, would perform in Dashain Ghar while the cultural procession would be staged by the troupe of all local castes and communities on the seventh day of the Dashain- Fulpati, shared Sarwajanik Dashain Puja Committee Chairperson, Bijaya KC. 

This year, according to Chairperson KC, Jamara is planted in bigger volume to offer Dashain tika to those thronging Dashain Ghar for tika on the tenth day of Festival. 

Women Committee Coordinator Sumi Thapa shared that bhajan-kirtan would be performed in Dashain Ghar during the festival. She informed, "Various cultural and religious shows would be hosted to add extra edge to Dashain celebration among Nepalis from all caste and community. 

Meanwhile, the Dashain fervour has also gripped people from the Tharu and Madheshi community in Rupandehi district. 
In the festival observed as 'Nawa Durga Puja' among these communities commencing from today, they establish the idol of Goddess Durga in various public places and worship throughout the nine days. 

The Tharu and Madheshi community believe that by worshipping the idol of Goddess Durga, Laxi, Saraswati and Lord Ganesh and Kartikeya, Goddess Durga grants the devotees' wishes. 

Baburam Pal, a local at Suddodan Rural Munciplkauity-1 in the district, shared that the idol of Goddess Durga has been established at places like Sainamaina Municipality, Suddodan Rural Municipality, Kanchan Rural Municipality, Siyari Rural Municipality among others. 

The Tharu and Madheshi people in these localities do not receive Dashain Tika but they, as per the Hindu Tradition, receive tika from Temples and those places where the idol of Goddess Durga is established, added local Pal. 

It is believed that by worshipping Goddess Durga for nine consecutive days and observes fasting during this period, one attains health, prosperity and good luck. 
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