Happy Bijaya Dashami 2013 - विजया दशमीकेा शुभकामना (Part 2)

Celebrating Nepali Dashain festival 2013 (Part 2)

 Happy Bijaya Dashami to all!

 विजया दशमीकेा शुभकामना! (B.S. 2070)

Part 2 of "Happy Bijaya Dashami" 
This is the continuation of previous post.  Please come along with me to explore more pictorial story of the festival of Nepal.

Bijaya Dashami photo guide 2013  - (Part 1 of 3) Bijaya Dashami photo guide 2013 - (Part 2 of 3)  Bijaya Dashami photo guide 2013 - (Part 3 of 3)   

The above greetings are made by Jyoti by using the Burning Bush leaves (the prized Fall foliage).

Capturing Dashain moments at Taleju Bhavani Temple at the Hanuman Dhoka,  Kathmandu - some devotees are lined up with their tray of Pooja ko Samagri (religious offering) to the goddess Taleju.  The temple is opened to general public only once a year during the ninth day of Dashain festival.

Admiring the sights and sounds of Dashain time -  another view of Taleju Bhavani temple - thousands of devotee have started to form a line before dawn and patiently waiting for their turn for Darshan (to pay respect to goddess) and offer prayers. 

Daily rituals during festival time - devotees have been visiting many religious temples and shrines in the Kathmandu valley and outside the valley – they are Shova Bhagawati, Nardevi, Naxal Bhagawati, Guheswori, Dakshinkali, Bhadrakali, Raktakali, Maitidevi, and Sankata and many more...

The Taleju Temple in the back - the square's most magnificent temple stands at to the northeast, but is not open to the public. Even Hindus can only visit the temple briefly during the annual Dashain festival. The Taleju Temple was built in 1564 by Mahendra Malla. Taleju Bhawani was originally a goddess from the south of India, but she became the titular deity, or royal goddess, of the Malla kings in the 14th century. Taleju temples were erected in her honour in Patan and Bhaktapur, as well as in Kathmandu.
The temple stands on a 12-stage plinth and reaches more than 35m high, dominating the Durbar Sq area. The eighth stage of the plinth forms a wall around the temple, in front of which are 12 miniature temples. Four more miniature temples stand inside the wall, which has four beautifully carved wide gates. If entry to the temple were permitted it could be reached from within the Hanuman Dhoka or from the Singh Dhoka (Lion Gate) facing Durbar Sq. Directly across from the Taleju Temple is a 10th-century kneeling Garuda statue.....continue reading here, the article from Lonely Planet.

The vibrant culture of Nepal

A young Nepalese women with two tray full of sacred offerings is on her way to Shova Bhagawati temple.

A Brahmin priest outside the temple is offering a prayer and blessing to a young devotee.

Images of a typical red mud circles (raato maato) - in Nepal, before performing a religious rituals, Nepalese apply red mud paste in the floor (रातो माटोले पोतेको ) to purify the area. 

 Kot courtyard area near Hanuman Dhoka and Durbar square area, Kathmandu - during the 9th day of Maha Asthami,  a rituals of ceremonial animal sacrifice (black male goat, buffalo, sheep, chicken, duck) is being prepared in the courtyard.

Official rituals of ceremonial slaughter of animals in the Kot courtyard - with high ranking officials of Armed Police and civil service, the Nepal army, Gurujyu ko Platoon, Nepal police.

Nepali army, Nepali police, and other police forces in the Kot courtyard - carrying marigold flower garland for the ceremony

Visitors watching ceremonial slaughter in the Kot courtyard - the rituals of animal sacrifice has attracted thousands of curious visitors to Nepal during Dashain festival time. 

Trying to find a perfect picture taking vista.....worshiping the khukuri, a Nepalese knife with an inwardly curved edge.

Large supply of sacred offerings in several leaf plates (flowers, fruits, Nepali sweets, raw rice, red and white fabric, oil-fed lamp) at Kot courtyard

Decorated ash gourd (kubhindo), a pumpkin like vegetable in the far right is one of the most important gourd in Nepal.  - many people these days are offering कुभिन्डो (kubhindo) to deities instead of ceremonial slaughter of animals.

.... and the ritual of animal sacrifice...

...spiritual world of Nepal - devotee carrying offerings for god

On the way to temple

....worshipping vehicles during Dashain festival

...cultural, social, and religious exchange during festival time

Planting your own Jamara (barley shoots) 

Dashain is here, and with the first day of Ghatasthapana, every Nepali Hindu household will be sowing Jamara, the pale green shoots so essential for the festivities to be celebrated for the next 10 days thence. Read here more on the method of sowing Jamara....another interesting article from e-kantipur about Ghatesthapana, please click here to read.

Picture above and bottom - the most auspicious and joyous time of the year - taking offering to temple

Nepali people in a festive mood

 Freshly painted chariot parts

The auspicious Kalasha (कलश), full of holy water is decorated with red and yellow vermillion paste

Religious ceremony before and after the ceremonial slaughter - an army official checks the ash gourd (kubhindo) and fresh coconut cut into two pieces offered to deities

A smiling Nepali women is asking me to buy some  मखमली फूल को माला - makhamali phool ko maalaa or supari phool ko maalaa - (globe amaranth garlands)

Capturing a picture of a simple village lady carrying sayapatri ko phool (marigold flower) in a doko (Nepali wicker woven basket)

Please turn to previous chapters to explore the pictorial blog of Happy Vijaya Dashami of Nepal.

Bijaya Dashami photo guide 2013  - (Part 1 of 3) Bijaya Dashami photo guide 2013 - (Part 2 of 3)  Bijaya Dashami photo guide 2013 - (Part 3 of 3)   

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