Kathmandu, October 3
The tradition of receiving Dashain tika and jamara continues today on Ekadashi, as devotees carry on with the practice beyond Bijaya Dashami. According to religious customs, the ritual of offering tika and jamara as prasad of Goddess Navadurga continues until Kojagrat Purnima, provided that the concluding sacrifices are not yet performed.
Dashain, also known as Bada Dashain, is celebrated for 15 days from the first day of the bright lunar fortnight of Ashwin to Kojagrat Purnima. On Bijaya Dashami, family members and respected elders bestow tika and jamara as blessings. Those who cannot meet their relatives on that day often exchange blessings until Kojagrat Purnima.
The tika ceremony officially begins on Bijaya Dashami morning after the ritual immersion of the goddess, following Vedic rites conducted on the kalash (sacred vessel) established at the Dashain household shrine on the first day of the festival.
Bedmani Bhattarai, a member of the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Samiti, explained that while some families perform tika only on Bijaya Dashami, others continue the practice until Kojagrat Purnima. “Nepali traditions are diverse and distinct,” he said. “In eastern and central Nepal, tika is commonly given until the full moon, while in many parts of western Nepal, it is customary to accept tika only on the day after Durga Bisarjan. These variations should be respected as part of each community’s unique tradition.”
Meanwhile, Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi is being observed today as Papankusha Ekadashi. According to religious belief, fasting on this day absolves sins committed knowingly or unknowingly in the past.
