Tenzin Lhendup

   I am here at Dorokha which is 3 hours drive from Samtse, Bhutan. I am lucky that I got an opportunity to experience Dashain tika. It is my first time celebrating Dashain. Yeah! It is interesting and lively. But more than a celebration, I realized that it is a time to reunite family members.  Dashain is celebrated all over Bhutan, but especially in the southern parts of the country. Observant Hindus will keep all 15 days, but it is the tenth day, known as Vijayadashami, that is the true highlight. While all Hindus, and even some non-Hindus, might take part in Dashain events, it’s technically a celebration of the “Shaktism” sect within Hinduism, which focuses its attention on worshiping various goddesses, such as Lakshmi or Kali. The first nine days of Dashain symbolise a nine-day battle between good and evil – that is, between the goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. On day one, a special pot (kalash) is filled with holy water and sown with seeds that will sprout du...