Dashain begins with Ghatasthapana, when families sow barley seeds in a sand-filled pot that sprouts into the yellow jamara used later in the festival. On Phulpati, the seventh day, a procession carries sacred flowers and leaves from Gorkha into Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu Durbar Square. The eighth and ninth days, Maha Asthami and Maha Navami, are the heaviest days of worship at Durga temples, and animal sacrifice still takes place at many shrines, including Taleju and Dakshinkali, which some visitors find hard to watch.
The tenth day, Vijaya Dashami, is the heart of it. Elders place tika, a paste of rice, yoghurt and red vermilion, on the foreheads of younger relatives along with jamara behind the ear, and give blessings and small gifts of money. Families travel across the valley for days to receive tika from every senior relative, and the celebrations continue until the full moon of Kojagrata Purnima. Bamboo swings called linge ping go up in villages, and children fly kites from every rooftop.
For travellers, Dashain falls in the best weather of the year, with clean air after the monsoon and sharp mountain views from Nagarkot and Chandragiri. The catch is logistics: long-distance buses and domestic flights sell out, Kathmandu's shops and some restaurants close for three to five days around Dashami, and hotel prices in Pokhara and Nagarkot rise. We plan Dashain trips well ahead and keep drives short on the main tika days.
Tips
- Book flights and hotels at least eight weeks ahead if your trip overlaps Vijaya Dashami.
- Expect many shops, museums and offices in Kathmandu to close for three to five days around the tenth day.
- If animal sacrifice troubles you, skip Dakshinkali and Durga temples on Asthami and Navami mornings.
Questions travellers ask
When is Dashain in 2026?
Dashain follows the lunar calendar and usually falls in late September or October. In 2026 Ghatasthapana is expected in mid-October with Vijaya Dashami about ten days later, but exact dates are set by Nepal's calendar committee each year, so check current status before you travel. We confirm the dates when we build your itinerary and plan drives around the main tika days.
Is Dashain a good time to visit Nepal?
Weather-wise it is one of the best times, with clear post-monsoon skies and good mountain views. The drawbacks are crowded transport, higher hotel rates and closures in Kathmandu around the tenth day. If you book early and accept that some shops shut, you get festive streets, kites, swings and the chance to see a Nepali family festival up close.
Can tourists take part in Dashain tika?
Usually only if a Nepali family invites you, since tika is given by elders to relatives. Many guides and hotel staff are happy to explain the ritual, and some homestays include guests. Watching families on their way to temples and relatives' homes on Vijaya Dashami, dressed in new clothes with red tika and jamara, is open to everyone.
Are shops and sights open during Dashain?
Major heritage sites such as Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and the Durbar Squares stay open, though they can be crowded with worshippers. Many shops, government offices, banks and some restaurants close for several days around Vijaya Dashami. Hotels and tourist restaurants in Thamel generally keep running. Withdraw cash before the holiday as ATMs sometimes run dry.
