Dasain is a big cultural festival of Nepalese society. It is not just a festival limited to tika, jamra, new clothes and delicious food, but also an opportunity to strengthen mutual harmony, family unity, social harmony, love, compassion and human relations.
Dasain connects people who are busy with their work and responsibilities throughout the year with family, relatives and society. Brings estranged relationships closer, gives an opportunity to clear misunderstandings and fills life with new zest. This is the reason why Dasain has been established as a festival of special importance in the life of Nepali people. This year too, Dasain has arrived in the backyard. But along with the splendor of this year's Dasain, many images of pain, agony and disaster are also in front of us.
This year's Dasain has come amid the fierceness of nature in the Himalayan region, the destruction caused by the floods and the suffering of the disaster-affected families. Some have lost their homes, some have lost their relatives and some families are still struggling to get their lives back to normal.
For some, Dasai is an opportunity to share happiness, while for others, it is a time to shed tears remembering the tragic events of the past. In some homes, lights are lit to welcome Dasain, while in some homes, silence has fallen due to the absence of loved ones. Therefore, this year's Dasain cannot be viewed only from the point of view of celebration and merriment. It is also an opportunity to understand the pain of the bereaved, show sympathy for them and extend a helping hand whenever possible.
The true meaning of the festival is to rejoice in the happiness of others and to support others in their sorrows. While we are celebrating Dasain in our homes, we should also remember the families who have suffered calamities. You should be able to feel their pain as your own. If even a part of the expenses, performances and pageantry done in the name of Dasain can be spent with the help of those who are suffering, it will increase the significance of the festival. The happiness of Dasain is complete only when our happiness can bring a smile on the faces of others.
Another important aspect of Dasain is its cultural and social uniqueness. Nepali society is a common flowerbed of diverse castes, languages, religions, traditions and lifestyles. Unity within this diversity is our social strength. Dasain brings together family members, relatives, neighborhoods and communities.
The tradition of taking blessings by receiving Tika and Jamra from the dignitaries, respecting the elders, loving the younger ones and meeting distant relatives maintains the continuity of the relationship with the passing of generations. It is our cultural responsibility to keep these fundamental aspects of Dasain alive. As time changes, it is natural to change the lifestyle, but in the name of change, our good traditions, social harmony and human values should not be lost.
Culture is the basis of making human life civilized, dignified and meaningful. When the word culture is combined with 'Sam' and 'Kriti', it seems to mean good, refined and cultured work. The main purpose of culture is to inspire people towards good deeds, maintain harmony in society and give positive direction to life. Therefore, culture itself cannot be negative, but it does not mean that all the practices practiced in the society in the name of culture are good. Discrimination, superstition, anarchy and inhumane behavior nurtured under the cover of culture do not make the society advanced. He pushes society backwards.
Even in a positive festival like Dasain, some distortions are seen. In the name of festivals, gambling, drunken fights, unnecessary flamboyance and competition, spending beyond financial means and showing unnecessary cruelty to animals weaken the true essence of the festival.
Belittling people based on caste, class, gender or economic status cannot be the pride of any culture. Perpetuating discrimination in the name of tradition is not the preservation of culture, but the promotion of distortion. So we need to understand the difference between culture and distortion. Correcting bad practices while imbibing good traditions is true respect for culture.
Dasain greetings should not be limited to formal words. May it be manifested in our behavior, reflected in our thinking and felt in our social life. May this Dasain grant patience and courage to those who are suffering, may the light of hope spread in the lives of families affected by calamity and spread happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone's home. Let the spirit of love, harmony and cooperation be strengthened by ending mutual animosity, hatred, differences and conflicts. May our good customs and traditions be passed on to the new generation, may the distortions in the society gradually disappear and may the positive message of Dasain be converted into practice. Wishing you all happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and mutual harmony!
Published: 30 Ashwin 2083 06:03 Fri
