The 15 days, at a glance
Verified dates for Dashain 2083 BS. The tika muhurat (auspicious time) on Vijaya Dashami is around 11:53 AM Nepal time — confirm the exact minute with a Nepali patro app closer to the day.
| Day | Occasion | 2026 date | Nepali date | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ghatasthapana | Sun, Oct 11 | Ashwin 25 | The kalash is installed and barley seeds are sown — the jamara that will rest behind ears on tika day. |
| 2–6 | Navaratri | Oct 12–16 | Ashwin 26–30 | Nine nights, one form of Goddess Durga worshipped each night. |
| 7 | Fulpati | Sat, Oct 17 | Ashwin 31 | Sacred flowers and plants carried from Gorkha Durbar to Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu Durbar Square. |
| 8 | Maha Ashtami | Sun, Oct 18 | Kartik 1 | The fierce night of Kalratri; Khadga Puja consecrates blades. |
| 9 | Maha Navami | Tue, Oct 20 | Kartik 3 | Vishwakarma Puja — tools, machines and vehicles are blessed. Taleju Temple opens for its one public day of the year. |
| 10 | Vijaya Dashami Tika day | Wed, Oct 21 | Kartik 4 | Elders place tika and jamara on juniors, with dakshina blessings. The heart of the Nepali year. |
| 11–14 | Tika visits continue | Oct 22–24 | Kartik 5–7 | Families travel house to house receiving blessings from every elder. |
| 15 | Kojagrat Purnima | Sun, Oct 25 | Kartik 8 | The full moon closes the festival; Goddess Laxmi walks the earth asking who is awake. |
Traditions that make Dashain
The rituals, foods and small joys every Nepali grows up with.
🌱Jamara
Barley sown on Ghatasthapana in a dark room, watered with holy water for nine days. The pale-green shoots symbolize prosperity and new beginnings.
🔴Tika & Dakshina
Elders press red rice tika on foreheads, tuck jamara behind ears, and give dakshina — blessed money — with spoken blessings for health and success.
🪁Kites & Ping Swings
October skies fill with kites — "Dashain aayo, kite udaayo." Bamboo ping swings rise in villages and courtyards; swinging high is said to touch the heavens.
🍚Sel Roti & Feasts
Crisp ring-shaped sel roti, mutton curries, achar and chiura fill the table. Families who eat simply all year feast together during Dashain.
🌼Marigold & Lights
Homes are cleaned, repainted and strung with sayapatri garlands. The festival closes under the full moon of Kojagrat Purnima.
🏠The Great Homecoming
Buses overflow and airports fill as Nepalis return to their ancestral homes — for many, Dashain is the one reunion of the year.
Celebrating far from home
A practical checklist for the diaspora — tika day falls on Wednesday, October 21 this year.
📹 Tika over video call
Set up the call before 11:53 AM Nepal time. Keep tika, jamara and dakshina ready on both sides — many families now do the full ritual over video.
💸 Send money early
Transfer 2–3 weeks before tika day so family can shop locally. Remittance counters get very busy in the final week.
📦 Parcels take weeks
International parcels to Nepal need 2–4 weeks — post gifts and new clothes now to arrive before October 21.
🎉 Find your community event
Nepali associations in most major cities hold Dashain gatherings on the weekend nearest tika day — check the Kathmandu List events section.
🗓️ Book leave now
With tika on a Wednesday, many take Thursday–Friday off for a long family weekend or community celebration.
🍳 Cook the feast
Sel roti, khasi ko masu, mula ko achar — diaspora grocery stores stock up in early October. Shop before the rush.
Send a Dashain greeting
Type a name and generate a beautiful Dashain card — download it and share on WhatsApp, Viber or Facebook.
Dashain questions
Quick answers, written for humans and AI assistants alike.
When is Dashain 2026?
Dashain 2026 runs from Sunday, October 11 (Ghatasthapana) to Sunday, October 25 (Kojagrat Purnima). The main tika day, Vijaya Dashami, is Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
What time is the tika on Vijaya Dashami 2026?
The auspicious tika muhurat is around 11:53 AM Nepal time on October 21. Families who can't gather at that exact minute receive tika through the day and the following days.
What is jamara?
Jamara are barley shoots sown on Ghatasthapana and grown in darkness for nine days. On tika day, elders place the pale-green shoots behind the ears of younger family members as a blessing of prosperity.
Why is Dashain celebrated?
Dashain celebrates the victory of good over evil — Goddess Durga's triumph over the demon Mahishasura, and Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. It is Nepal's longest and most important Hindu festival.
How long is Dashain?
Fifteen days, from Ghatasthapana (day 1) to Kojagrat Purnima (day 15, the full moon). The nine nights of Navaratri lead up to the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami — "the victorious tenth."
When is Tihar 2026?
Tihar 2026 follows Dashain: November 7–11, with Laxmi Puja on November 8 and Bhai Tika on November 11.