Dashain (Vijaya Dashami)
दशैं (विजयादशमी)
Also known as: Navaratri, Bada Dashain, Durga Puja
Nepal's longest and most important festival, celebrating the victory of goddess Durga (Navadurga) over the demon Mahishasura. Represents the triumph of good over evil.
When
September–October
Gregorian (approximate — lunar dates shift yearly)
Nepali month
Ashwin
Bikram Sambat calendar
Duration
15 days
Tourist appeal
High
Hindu · Nationwide
Dashain is the most joyous and awaited festival in Nepal, spanning fifteen days during the bright lunar fortnight of Ashwin. Families reunite from across Nepal and abroad. On the tenth day (Vijaya Dashami), elders bestow 'tika' (a red paste of rice, yoghurt and vermillion) and 'jamara' (yellow grass grown in the dark) as blessings on younger family members.
Traditions & rituals
Saptami to Navami: animal sacrifices at Durga temples (Devi sacrifice)
Maha Ashtami and Navami: government vehicle sacrifices (gazetted practice)
Fulpati: royal jasmine flowers brought from Gorkha to Hanuman Dhoka
Vijaya Dashami: tika and jamara blessings from eldest to youngest
Swing season (ping): giant bamboo swings erected in every village
School and government offices close for 10–15 days
What people eat during Dashain (Vijaya Dashami)
When does Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) fall this year?
Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) is observed in the Nepali month of Ashwin, which corresponds to roughly September–October in the Gregorian calendar. Most Nepali festivals follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar, so the precise day moves each year. Use our converter to map any Bikram Sambat date to the Gregorian calendar.
Nepali date converter (BS ⇄ AD) →Dashain (Vijaya Dashami), answered
Common questions about the date, duration and meaning of Dashain (Vijaya Dashami).
When is Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) celebrated?+
Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) falls in September–October — the Nepali month of Ashwin in the Bikram Sambat calendar. Because most Nepali festivals follow the lunar calendar, the exact Gregorian dates shift slightly each year.
How long does Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) last?+
Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) lasts 15 days.
What is the significance of Dashain (Vijaya Dashami)?+
Nepal's longest and most important festival, celebrating the victory of goddess Durga (Navadurga) over the demon Mahishasura. Represents the triumph of good over evil.
Who celebrates Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) and where?+
Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) is primarily a Hindu festival, celebrated across Nepal.
What food is eaten during Dashain (Vijaya Dashami)?+
Traditional Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) foods include Sel roti (ring-shaped deep-fried rice doughnut), Sapha (meat curry), Khasi ko masu (goat meat), Kheer (rice pudding).
Other festivals of Nepal
Sources & data note
Festival dates follow the lunar Bikram Sambat calendar and shift each Gregorian year; the approximate Gregorian months reflect the typical recent range. Cultural details on Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) are sourced from the Nepal Tourism Board and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.