Aayu Drona Sute - Meaning of Dashain and Vijaya Dashami

It was good to read about "Bada Dashain" and its beginning day today "Ghatasthapana". Dashain or Bada Dashain (also called as Navaratri) is Nepali's biggest national festival and for the BS 2071, it has started from today. We wish all our readers a very happy and prosperous "Bada Dashain" and "Subha VijayaDashami".

Ghatasthapana marks the beginning of Hindu Nepalese's biggest festival. This marks the start of special 9 days called as Navaratri. Today, Nepali people do a special Puja and sow the seeds of barley, wheat and maize in dark corner of a home without direct access of sunlight. This is called "creation of Jamara". The Jamara/small saplings from these seeds are given along with Tika on the day of "Vijaya Dashami". There will be daily readings of sacred religious texts and offerings at a place where Jamara Ghar is created. This festival will also demand the animal sacrifices which take place on eighth and ninth day of Navaratris. These 8th and 9th days are called "Maha Ashtami" and "Maha Nawami".

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Herein below, I am writing about the slokas/Mantras/Hymns that are chanted on the day of Vijaya Dashami and four days thereafter while offering Tika (Rice and curd put on your forehead after they are mixed with red colour). Tika will be offered by elder family members to younger ones and comes with blessings.

The blessings will be generally by reciting Sanskrit Text and we will be looking of the meaning of such Hymns.

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“Aayu drona sute” is Sanskrit mantra/hymns that our parents chant when they put Tika on our forehead in Dashain. In our childhood, it used to be sometimes fun for us. We used to joke like ‘Aayu Drona Sute’……….Dashain ka bela sabai jana sute, Chor haru jage………That means all people like drona and others have slept, and only the thieves are roaming around in the night………..it was our interpretation to create some humour.

The actual meaning of ‘Aayu Drona Sute’ means May you have a long life like Son of Drona. The Son of Drona is called Asosthama, which is considered to be one of the Aastha Chiranjivi (Aastha Chiranjivi means those eight people who never die as per Hindu epics). Therefore, when our parents bless us saying ‘Aayu Drona Sute’, that means let my children have long life like Asosthama………that means you never die.

“Aayu drona sute” is in sanskrit and it is a long chant and each words used in the hymn signify something great thing about various people. It is basically the blessings given by your near and dear ones who are generally aged in your families and respected by all family members.

When I talk about Dashain, the nine days puja/worship to god and the tenth day Vijaya dashami should be fondly rembered. Dashain is a festival having fifteen days totally.

There are Dashain Kabita written by various great poets in Nepal. These Kabita/poems depict the grandeur of Dashain and enlighten more about Dashain.

In terms of food also, Dashain is something different like what did nepali people eat in dashain matters. It is mostly a non-veg festival unless you eat only vegetarian food. Generally, the non-vegetarian foods are eaten from 8th day of Navaratri, which is called MahaAsthami and that is today. People, as per their tradition, cut goat, buffalo, chicken etc. on this occasion.

My dashain wish cannot be fulfilled but I am yearning for going home. I wish that all Nepalese Celebtare Dashain in great mood.

By evening, I wish to post a nepali gazal about Dashain. I hope I can write a one to depict the beauty and majesty of this Festival.

Wish you all a Happy Dashain.
Once Again, Happy Dashain!