Submit your Article

Rajapur Municipality-5, Bardiya, is alive with the festive charm of the traditional Sakhiya Naach performed by the Tharu community. Beginning before Dashain and continuing for several days after the festival, this dance adds vibrancy to Tharu villages.

According to village elder Pradesi Chaudhary of Khallajaypur, the Sakhiya dance begins as soon as Dashain starts. In this dance, young women perform while young men play the madal (traditional drum). The more intensely the madal is played, the livelier the atmosphere becomes. Around 20 to 25 young women participate, dressed in white fariya (skirt), red choliya (blouse), and red ribbons.

Linked to stories from the Mahabharata, the Sakhiya dance is performed collectively with madal and manjira (cymbals), accompanied by songs. The songs invoke the names of various deities of the Tharu community, highlighting the dance’s cultural and religious significance.

“We perform this dance every year to preserve our tradition because the younger generation is gradually forgetting our culture,” said elder Pradesi Chaudhary.

Text & Photos: Nepal Photo Library

Dashain is a special festival for all Nepalis, celebrated with family gatherings, blessings of tika and jamara from elders, feasts, and traditional games like ping swings.

In villages across Nepal, swings remain a major attraction and source of entertainment during the festival. Traditionally, two types of swings are set up—linge ping, made from bamboo and ropes, and rote ping, made of wood.

Since these swings are built only during Dashain and Tihar, villagers, especially children and youth, eagerly flock to them for fun. A popular belief also holds that one must leave the ground at least once on a swing during Dashain.

In Gorkha’s Ajirkot Sirandanda, locals were seen enjoying swings as part of their festive celebrations.

Text & Photos: Nepal Photo Library

 ​​​​​​​

On the day of Bijaya Dashami, jamara, considered the sacred blessing of Goddess Navadurga, is being sold at various intersections of Kathmandu. While most households grow jamara from the day of Ghatasthapana, those unable to grow it at home for various reasons purchase it from vendors. Traders said each bunch of jamara is being sold for Rs 100 to Rs 150.

Photo: Nepal Photo Library

During Nepal’s biggest festival, Dashain, the streets of Kathmandu Valley have become unusually quiet. With people traveling to their villages to celebrate Dashain and Tihar, and many locals staying indoors, the capital looks deserted.

Normally congested with heavy traffic, the roads of Kathmandu Valley are now empty. From Ghatasthapana to today, around 600,000 people left the Valley through various exit points.