KATHMANDU, Oct 21: The 10th day of the Bada Dashain festival is being celebrated across the country today with great enthusiasm as people receive tika, jamara and blessings from their elders.
The red tika symbolizes good luck and victory, while jamara symbolizes prosperity. Both are considered auspicious blessings from Goddess Nawadurga.
According to Prof. Purushottam Bhattarai, chairperson of the Nepal Calendar Determination Development Committee, the immersion of the festival goddess in rivers and ponds as part of religious rituals was scheduled for 8:49 am today, while the auspicious time for receiving tika is 10:26 am.
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Bijaya Dashami today
Although 10:26 am has been designated as the auspicious time for receiving the goddess's prasad, the entire day after the immersion of the goddess is considered auspicious for receiving tika, Bhattarai said.
The nine-day worship of Sri Durga Bhawani at Dashain Ghars formally concludes on Bijaya Dashami. The ritual of sprinkling holy water, or abhishek, marks the beginning of tika distribution.
People receive tika and jamara from their elders until the full moon day. Tika and jamara are regarded as auspicious offerings from Goddess Nawadurga and symbolize prosperity.
It is believed that people do not need to seek a specific auspicious time to begin a new assignment, campaign or journey on the auspicious day of Bijaya Dashami.
The festival commemorates the victory of truth over evil and divine forces over demonic forces.