Wednesday, October 19, 2016

2016 - Happy Deepawali-Tihar-Bhai Tika

2016 - Happy Deepawali-Tihar-Bhai-Tika


Wishing all my blog readers
Happy Deepawali! -  (शुभ दिपावलीको शुखद उपलक्षमा हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना)
Happy Tihaar and Bhai-Tika! -  (2073 साल को तिहार, भाई-टिका को शुभकामना)
Happy Bhintuna Greetings! -  (भिन्तुना शुभकामना)
Happy Chat Parba! -  (छत पर्बको उपलक्षमा हार्दिक शुभकामना)

May Peace, Love and Prosperity follow you always and forever!





Deepawali reminds me of Marigold (sayapatri phool) and Globe Amaranth flowers (makhamali phool). As we approach the Deepawali-Tihar-Bhai-Tika soon, I would like to celebrate the festival by uploading several pictures captured by me during the festival time in Nepal. 





I would also like to share a short write-up about the festive flowers from Dr. Deepak Shimkhada, a Nepali scholar, Professor at Claremont Lincoln University, artist, author, and art historian.  He writes, "When I see marigolds I am reminded of Dashain In Nepali, marigold is called SAYAPATRI, meaning ‘flower with one hundred petals.’ I really haven’t verified the numbers by counting each petal and I’m sure that if I really sat down to count them it would drive me crazy, because the petals are tiny and packed into a small bud. The individual who came up with the name might have tried to count, but after counting only 50 or 60 petals might have given up; in his or her estimation, there were more than 100, so the individual might have decided to call it Sayapatri. I am sure there are more than hundred petals, but does anyone care to verify?  I think it’s the colorful sight and smell of the Marigold and Godavari (chrysanthemum) in Dashain and Tihar, respectively; the nostalgia transports me back to my childhood days, when I used to wear a garland of flowers during these times. How sweet those memories were! I can almost touch and smell them."

Season of Marigold flowers - Sayapatri Phool (शयपत्री फुल)
Season of Globe Amaranth or Gomphrena Globosa flowers - Makhamali Phool - (मखमली फुल)














Monday, October 10, 2016

Happy Bijaya Dashami 2016 - विजया दशमीकेा शुभकामना


I would like to wish the "Taste of Nepal Blog" readers a very Happy Bijaya Dashami 2016 (Ashoj 2073 – Bikram Sambat - Nepali calendar). May the warmth and joy of Dashain fill your heart and home with happiness. Thank you for stopping by and experiencing the cultural, social, and religious exchange during the most auspicious time in Nepal.


Dashain (दशैं) or Badadashain (बडादशैं) or Vijaya or Bijaya Dashami (बिजया दशमी) is the 15 day long national (religious) festival of Nepal. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people throughout the globe. It is not only the longest festival of the country, but it is also the one which is most anticipated. The festival falls around October-November, starting from the bright lunar fortnight and ending on the day of full moon. 


Dashain is celebrated for 15 days; the most important days are the 1st, 8th, 9th, 10th, and the 11th. The fifteen days of celebration occur during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Dashain is also popularly referred to as Badadashain, Dashera, Vijaya (Bijaya) Dashami etc. 



The most important days of Bijaya Dashami
First Day of Dashain - Ghatasthaapanaa - घटस्थापना - October 1, 2016
Day 7 - Fulpaati - (फूल्पाती) - October 8, 2016
Day 8 - Maha Asthami - (महा अश्टमी) - October 9, 2016
Day 9 - Maha Navami - (महा नवमी) - October 10, 2016
Day 10 - Bijaya Dashami - (बिजया दशमी) - October 11, 20116



Here are some informative links about the festival that I hope you will enjoy viewing

1.  Sharing video of "Celebrating Phulpaati in Nepal"
Published October 8, 2016 by Incredible Nepal....please click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SKwKXaJ6xU&feature=youtu.be

2.  Phulpaati at Hanuman Dhoka by Avenues TV Nepal - please click here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzVL_MYET-0

3. Mangal Dhun created by Sur Sudha for great festival of Bijaya Dashami - please click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0-6U948u7Y&feature=share

4. Part I - Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi: Jamara Kasari Rakhne “घटस्थापनामा जमरा कसरी राख़्ने ?” : FESTIVALS OF NEPAL - please click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ipfnmheTWc

5. Part II - Ghatasthapana Puja: “घटस्थापनादेखि दशैँसम्म” Part 2: FESTIVALS OF NEPAL - please click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx8Zao65iAg