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Mark your calendars for the exhilarating religious celebration, Nepal: Maha Ashtami, taking place on October 11. This festival is the cornerstone of the grand Nepalese celebration, Dashain, which is the longest and most notable festival in the Nepali calendar. Maha Ashtami is considered the most important day of this ten-day celebration, representing the victory of good over evil. The day is filled with colorful celebrations, blessings, and acts of devotion, commemorating the Hindu goddess Durga and her victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It's an explosion of culture, sound, and excitement, where Nepalese people all over the world connect to their roots and uphold the spirit of their cultural identity. So, buckle up and get ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant customs and traditions of Nepal during Maha Ashtami!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1200s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origins of Maha Ashtami</div><div class='timeline-text'>Maha Ashtami can be traced back to the 13th century during the reign of the kings of Nepal Mandala.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1768</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Unification of Nepal</div><div class='timeline-text'>The holiday was popularized across the regions as King Prithvi Narayan Shah unified different principalities into one Nepal.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1950s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Global Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>As Nepalese migrated globally in the 1950s, they took their cultural practices with them, gaining recognition for Maha Ashtami around the world.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Revitalization Efforts</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 1990s, revitalization efforts focused on preserving traditional practices of Maha Ashtami amidst rapid modernization.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Modern Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>By the 2000s, Maha Ashtami grew in visibility with virtual celebrations and broadcasts due to advances in technology.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Now</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Current Maha Ashtami Festivities</div><div class='timeline-text'>Today, Maha Ashtami is a mix of traditional and contemporary practices, celebrated vibrantly not just in Nepal but by the global Nepalese community.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Participate in a puja</h3><p class='facts-text'>Puja, or worship, is a vital part of Maha Ashtami. Even if you're not in Nepal, you can still participate in a local Hindu temple, or set up a small altar at home. This can consist of an image or symbol of Goddess Durga, incense, candles, and offerings.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Join the music and dance celebrations</h3><p class='facts-text'>Traditional Nepalese music and dance are a significant aspect of Maha Ashtami celebrations. If there's a Nepalese community near you, they may host events where you can watch or even join in the dancing.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Cook a traditional Nepalese meal</h3><p class='facts-text'>Food is another significant aspect of Maha Ashtami. Why not celebrate by cooking a traditional Nepalese meal? Some typical foods eaten during Dashain include mutton, rice, lentils, and vegetables.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Wear some traditional Nepalese clothing</h3><p class='facts-text'>Another way to become immersed in the celebration is by dressing in traditional Nepalese clothing such as Daura-Suruwal for men and, Saris or Kurthas for women. You might want to accessorize with a Dhaka topi, a traditional hat.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Share stories about the festival</h3><p class='facts-text'>Another way to celebrate this important event is by sharing stories about the significance of Maha Ashtami and the wider Dashain festival. Not only does this provide a deeper understanding of the event, it can also help to share and preserve the cultural traditions associated with it.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Maha Ashtami Encourages Good to Overcome Evil</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>With roots in Hindu mythology, Maha Ashtami is an important day to celebrate the victory of good over evil, represented by the goddess Durga's triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. This day serves as a reminder of the power of positivity and goodness.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>A Glimpse into a Vibrant Culture</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Immersing oneself in Maha Ashtami allows one to experience the rich culture, customs, and traditions of Nepal. From participating in a puja, wearing traditional Nepalese clothing, to cooking a traditional Nepalese meal, each activity offers an exciting and educational cultural experience.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Unity and Community Connection</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Maha Ashtami is a day where Nepalese people all over the world connect to their roots. Sharing stories about this festival not only provides a deeper understanding of its significance but also helps in preserving and sharing the cultural traditions, enhancing a sense of community connection.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Maha Ashtami is a day of Sacrifice</h3><p class='facts-text'>On Maha Ashtami, many Hindu households in Nepal conduct animal sacrifices as an offering to appease Durga, regarded as the goddess of power and war. This ritual is performed early in the morning as a symbol of good prevailing over evil.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Kalaratri Puja</h3><p class='facts-text'>Maha Ashtami is also known as Kalaratri, the night of black or the night of death, in reference to the dark night when Durga killed the demon. The day ends with the Kalaratri Puja where hundreds of candles and oil lamps are lit at temples.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Playing on Swings is a Tradition</h3><p class='facts-text'>During Dashain, of which Maha Ashtami is a part, huge bamboo swings known as 'ping' are constructed as it's believed that swinging during Dashain takes away earthly troubles.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Red Tikka and Jamara are Central to Celebrations</h3><p class='facts-text'>On Maha Ashtami individuals receive red Tikka and Jamara (barley sprouts) from their elders, symbolizing the blessings of Goddess Durga and other deities.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Part of a 15-Day Celebration</h3><p class='facts-text'>Maha Ashtami is part of a 15-day celebration which begins with Ghatasthapana (establishment of a pot that symbolizes goddess Durga) and concludes with Kojagrat Purnima, the day when the moon is at its brightest.</p></div></div>
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