Dashain spirit sweeps Nepal as villages, temples and roads come alive (photo feature)

Baglung Municipality-3. All photos courtesy: RSS

KATHMANDU: Houses painted with traditional white clay and red mud, bamboo swings known as Linge Ping rising in village courtyards, travelers returning home for family reunions and crowds of worshippers at Shakti Pithas, sacred Hindu pilgrimage shrines dedicated to Aadi Shakti, have brought a festive atmosphere across Nepal as Dashain celebrations gather momentum.

With Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of Navaratri in the Ashwin Shukla Paksha, being observed on Sunday, the spirit of Dashain, the country’s biggest and longest Hindu festival, has spread from rural villages to urban centers. House cleaning and painting, the installation of traditional swings, festival shopping and the arrival of people returning from abroad have added to the excitement.

The tradition of decorating houses with white clay and red mud remains alive in many villages. Although modern paints are becoming increasingly common, families continue to use traditional materials to refresh their homes for the festival. The newly painted walls and courtyards reflect not only the arrival of Dashain but also the cultural practices passed down through generations.