Dashain 2026 in Nepal: Vijaya Dashami Date, Ghatasthapana, Tika, Jamara and Rituals Day by Day

Quick answer: Dashain 2026 begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October 2026. Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami fall on Monday 19 October, and Vijaya Dashami, the main tika day, is Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Drik Panchang, Nepal). Drik Panchang's Vijay Muhurat for Kathmandu is 1:42 to 2:28 PM local time, but families should follow the official tika sait announced in Nepal.

Dashain (Bada Dashain or Vijaya Dashami) is the longest and most important festival in Nepal. For about two weeks, offices and schools close, cities empty as people travel to their ancestral villages, and families gather to worship the goddess Durga and receive tika and blessings from their elders. For the millions of Nepalis working and studying abroad, from the Gulf and Malaysia to the UK, the USA, Australia and India, Dashain is the festival that most strongly means home. Here are the 2026 dates and a day-by-day guide.

Dashain 2026 key dates

Dates above are from Drik Panchang's Nepal calendar. In Nepal, festival dates and the tika sait are officially fixed by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti and the government's holiday calendar; if they differ, follow the official Nepali announcement. In 2026, Ashtami and Navami are listed on the same day, so the rituals of the two days will be close together. Dashain continues after Vijaya Dashami, with families visiting relatives to receive tika until the full moon of Kojagrat Purnima, which closes the festival.

Dashain day by day

Ghatasthapana: sowing the jamara

Dashain starts with Ghatasthapana, the installation of the sacred kalash (a vessel of water representing the goddess) in the home's puja room or dashain ghar. Around it, barley seeds are sown in a bed of sand and soil, and the room is kept dark so the shoots grow pale yellow. The kalash and jamara are worshipped every day of Navratri, often by the eldest male of the household, who may also recite the Durga Saptashati (Chandi Path).

The early days of Navratri

Over the next days, the nine forms of Durga are worshipped. Devotees visit Shakti temples, and in Kathmandu valley shrines such as those of Guhyeshwari, Dakshinkali and other Devi temples are crowded. Kite flying fills the autumn sky, and in villages giant bamboo swings called ping are built for children and adults alike.

Fulpati

On Saptami, the seventh day, comes Fulpati, the bringing of the sacred flowers and leaves. Traditionally, a bundle of sacred plants, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane, tied with red cloth, was carried from Gorkha to Kathmandu, and the procession and ceremonies at Kathmandu's Durbar Square and Tundikhel remain a highlight of the festival. In homes, Fulpati is brought into the dashain ghar.

Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami

Maha Ashtami is devoted to the fierce forms of the goddess, especially Kali, and the night is known as Kal Ratri. Maha Navami is the last day of Navratri. Traditionally these are days of animal sacrifice at temples and in many homes, and the Taleju Bhawani temple in Kathmandu opens to the public on Navami. Many families today choose vegetarian offerings, such as pumpkins, cucumbers or coconuts, instead. On Navami, people also worship tools, vehicles and weapons (Vishwakarma or Ayudha puja), asking for protection in the year ahead.

Vijaya Dashami: tika and jamara

Vijaya Dashami is the heart of Dashain. After worship of the goddess, elders mix rice grains with yogurt and red vermilion (abir) to make the tika, place it on the foreheads of younger relatives, tuck jamara behind their ears and bless them with prosperity, health and long life, along with a little money called dakshina. Some communities use a white tika instead of red. Families travel from house to house over the following days so that everyone receives tika from every elder.

Food, gifts and family

Dashain is also a festival of feasting. Families prepare meat dishes such as goat curry (often from the Navami offering), along with sel roti, achar, beaten rice and sweets, and vegetarian families make their own festive spreads. New clothes are bought, homes are cleaned and painted, and cards and greetings fill phones. The Nepali greeting is "Bijaya Dashami ko hardik shubhakamana" (heartfelt wishes on Vijaya Dashami).

Dashain for Nepalis abroad

With so many Nepalis living overseas, Dashain is now celebrated in community halls and temples from Doha and Dubai to London, New York, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur. Some practical suggestions:

• Do not convert Kathmandu's tika time into your time zone. Follow your community organisation or local temple, or simply give tika at a convenient auspicious moment on Vijaya Dashami or the days after.
• Sow jamara at home on Ghatasthapana. Barley is available at most health-food stores; keep the pot in a dark cupboard and water lightly.
• Tuesday 20 October 2026 is a working day in most countries. Many families receive tika in the evening and hold a larger gathering on the weekend.
• Video-call elders in Nepal on Vijaya Dashami to receive blessings. Many families also send dakshina to elders back home.
• Teach children the meaning of tika, jamara and the goddess's victory, and include them in sowing and watering the jamara.

For Dashain among Nepali-speaking communities in India, see our guides to Dussehra 2026 in Sikkim and Dussehra 2026 in Uttarakhand. For the wider festival, see our Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026 pillar guide.

Share the Vijayadashami 2026 blessing

On Vijaya Dashami, Hindus in Nepal and Nepali families across the world remember the victory of dharma. As commonly told, Maa Durga overcame Mahishasura and Lord Rama triumphed over Ravana, the light of truth over the darkness of pride. During Dashain, elders bless the young with tika and jamara, and every blessing becomes a thread that ties the family together. Wherever you are this year, send a heartfelt blessing to your family, your elders and everyone you love.

Shami shloka for Vijayadashami

शमी शमयते पापं शमी शत्रुविनाशिनी। अर्जुनस्य धनुर्धारी रामस्य प्रियदर्शिनी॥

Shami shamayate papam shami shatru-vinashini, arjunasya dhanurdhari ramasya priyadarshini.

Meaning: The Shami tree takes away sin and destroys enemies; it held Arjuna's bow and is dear to Lord Rama. Many families recite this while offering Shami (Jammi) leaves on Vijayadashami.

Rama mantra to chant on Dussehra

रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे। रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः॥

Ramaya ramabhadraya ramachandraya vedhase, raghunathaya nathaya sitayah pataye namah.

Meaning: Salutations to Rama, to Ramabhadra, to Ramachandra the creator, to the lord of the Raghu clan, to the husband of Sita.

Vijayadashami 2026 messages to share

Happy Vijaya Dashami! 🙏 May Maa Durga fill our family with love, health and harmony, and may this Dashain bring us closer, from our home in Nepal to every corner of the world. Share on WhatsApp

Dear Ama and Buwa, your tika and blessings are my greatest treasure. Wishing you good health, peace and many joyful years this Vijaya Dashami. 🌼 Share on WhatsApp

Happy Dashain, dear friend! May the light of Vijaya Dashami chase away every worry and fill your days with laughter, courage and good company. ✨ Share on WhatsApp

Wishing you and your family a blessed Vijaya Dashami. May this festival of victory bring clarity, steady effort and harmony to our work together. Share on WhatsApp

May Maa Durga, who overcame Mahishasura, give you the strength to face every challenge and the courage to stand for what is right this Dashain. 🔱 Share on WhatsApp

Sending love across the miles to our family in Nepal this Dashain. May Lord Rama's victory of dharma guide your steps and keep your home full of peace. 🏹 Share on WhatsApp

A short Vijayadashami prayer

Maa Durga, I bow before you with a humble heart this Vijaya Dashami. Give me the strength to face my fears, the courage to choose what is right, and the wisdom to act with kindness. Lord Rama, guide my steps on the path of dharma. Keep my family, near and far, free of negativity and bound together in love, and help me honour my elders with a grateful heart.

Use the share buttons on this page to send these blessings to your family and friends.

Frequently asked questions

When is Vijaya Dashami tika in Nepal in 2026?

Vijaya Dashami, the main tika day of Dashain, is Tuesday 20 October 2026 as listed by Drik Panchang for Nepal. The official tika sait and holidays are fixed in Nepal each year, so follow the Nepali announcement if it differs.

When does Dashain 2026 begin?

Dashain begins with Ghatasthapana on Sunday 11 October 2026, when the kalash is installed and jamara seeds are sown. The festival continues after Vijaya Dashami until Kojagrat Purnima; check your local panchang for that date.

What is the Vijay Muhurat in Kathmandu on Vijaya Dashami 2026?

Drik Panchang gives the Kathmandu Vijay Muhurat as 1:42 to 2:28 PM local time on 20 October 2026. Families usually follow the official tika sait announced in Nepal.

What is jamara and why is it given with tika?

Jamara are barley shoots sown on Ghatasthapana and grown in a dark room so they turn pale yellow. On Vijaya Dashami, elders tuck them behind the ears of younger relatives along with a tika of rice, yogurt and vermilion as a blessing for health and long life.

Where do Nepalis celebrate Dashain?

In Nepal, families return to their ancestral villages, crowd Shakti shrines such as Guhyeshwari and Dakshinkali, and gather at Kathmandu's Durbar Square and Tundikhel for Fulpati. Abroad, community halls and temples from Doha and Dubai to London, New York, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur host celebrations.

Should Nepalis abroad convert the Kathmandu tika time to their time zone?

No. Follow your community organisation or local temple, or give tika at a convenient auspicious moment on Vijaya Dashami or the following days, and video-call elders in Nepal to receive their blessings.

Editor's note

Editor's note (5 October 2026): This page has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. Dates are from Drik Panchang's Nepal calendar and the Kathmandu Vijay Muhurat is from Drik Panchang. The official tika sait and public holidays are announced in Nepal each year and take precedence. We have not given dates for Fulpati or Kojagrat Purnima, which should be checked against the official Nepali calendar.

Related guides

• Dussehra / Vijayadashami 2026: complete guide
• Dussehra 2026 in Sikkim
• Dussehra 2026 in Nagaland
• Navratri 2026: complete guide for NRI families
• Kullu Dussehra 2026 in Himachal Pradesh
• October 2026 Hindu festival calendar

Also read: Dashain 2026: dates and tika day