Dasain 2022

After two years of relatively muted Dasain festivities due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nepalis were all revved up to make up for it this year. However, heavy post-monsoonal rains over most of Nepal drenched Tika on Wednesday.

The rains, combined with a lingering dengue epidemic in Kathmandu did put a damper on the festivities, but did not seem to dampen the Dasain spirit.

On 5 October, families celebrating the festival across the country observed Tika, the main day of Dasain when elders bless younger ones with ceremonial vermilion-rice paste on the forehead and sacred barley shoots. The celebration continues until the full moon night of 9 October.

Dasain has been marked for millennia as a symbol of good vs evil, but probably originated as a harvest festival, and evolved into family get togethers. It is also traditionally accompanied by playing on bamboo swings and flying kites -- although this Dasain was too wet for kite fights.

Nepali Times photojournalist Suman Nepali brings these and more in this photo feature depicting this year’s Dasain festivities.