Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang extended his greetings to the people on the occasion, invoking the blessings of Goddess Durga for peace, prosperity and happiness.
“May Maa Durga shower her choicest blessings on Sikkim and the Sikkimese people, bringing peace, prosperity, and happiness to everyone’s lives,” he said.
Emphasising the spirit of togetherness, Tamang urged people to use the festival to strengthen social bonds and build a society rooted in respect, equality and justice.
“Let us come together to strengthen our bonds and work towards building a society that upholds respect, equality, and justice for all,” he said, expressing hope that tradition would enrich progress and unity would remain a source of strength.
Unlike Dussehra and Bijoya Dashami celebrations elsewhere in India, marked by effigy burning and Durga idol immersion, Bada Dashain, observed by Nepali Hindus across India, Nepal and Bhutan, spans 15 days, ending on Kojagrat Purnima, the full moon night.
For families across Sikkim, Bijoya Dashami is among the most significant moments of the festival, ushering in days of visits to relatives and ancestral homes.
Elders apply Tika, a sacred mixture of red vermilion, rice and curd, to the foreheads of younger family members and place fresh Jamara, the yellow shoots grown from barley seeds, behind their ears.
The rituals are accompanied by blessings for good health, prosperity and longevity, often along with cash gifts known as Dakshina.
The fortnight-long celebrations begin with Ghatasthapana, the ritual of sowing barley seeds in a holy pot kept in a darkened room. The sprouted shoots, known as Jamara, hold deep religious significance and become central to the blessings exchanged during Dashain.
A traditional Lingay ping that is constructed during the Dashain festival
Fulpati, observed on the seventh day, marks another important milestone. Nine sacred plants representing the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga are tied together in traditional red cloth and carried into prayer rooms in processions accompanied by traditional music and sacred chants.
The celebrations continue through Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami, with homes cleaned, whitewashed and decorated with marigold garlands, while Chandi recitations and prayers form an integral part of the observances.
SDF president and former chief minister Pawan Chamling also extended his greetings, highlighting the festival’s message of truth and righteousness.
“We have been celebrating and observing this festival as a celebration of the victory of truth over falsehood and light over darkness,” Chamling said, expressing hope that the occasion would inspire people to uphold truthful and noble values.
On Maha Ashtami, the Newar community observes Kuchi Bhay, a traditional feast whose name means “a feast of two measures of grain”. Held on the eighth evening of Dashain after household prayers, the feast brings family members together, seated according to seniority on floor mats, to share a meal served on banana leaves.
The meal centres on two portions of chiura (beaten rice), accompanied by 12 vegetable dishes and 12 pieces of choila (spiced roasted meat), along with potato pickle, black lentils, fermented greens and traditional rice liquor known as aila. Before the meal, a small portion of each item, known as dyo chaye, is offered to the deities and ancestors.
Beyond its religious significance, Dashain is a time of homecoming for Sikkimese people living elsewhere in India and abroad, many of whom return to their native villages to reunite with family and friends.
As residents travel to ancestral homes, major towns and cities often become quieter, while villages come alive with traditional festivities.
“During Dashain we don’t have any local customers; the only ones using our service are the tourists,” said Bittu Chettri, a local taxi driver.
Although Bijoya Dashami marks the tenth day, the festivities continue as families visit relatives, exchange blessings and strengthen bonds before Bada Dashain concludes on Kojagrat Purnima.
The extended celebration remains a cherished expression of faith, family ties and cultural identity across Sikkim.