File:A little boy getting tikas and blessing from elder in Dashain festival.jpg

English: A little boy getting tikas and blessing from elder in Dashain festival.

Dashain is a very popular festival in Nepal. It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people throughout the globe. It is also celebrated by many Hindus elsewhere. It is the longest and most anticipated festival in Nepal. People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together. All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period.The festival falls in September or October, starting from the shukla paksha (bright lunar fortnight) of the month of Ashvin and ending on purnima, the full moon. Among the fifteen days on which it is celebrated, the most important days are the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth.

Among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, Dashain or traditionally called Mwohni (Newar: मोह्नी) or Durga Puja (Newar: दुर्गा पुजा) is celebrated as the most important Newar festival of the calendar year.[1] It is celebrated by both Hindu and Buddhist with only slight differences and interpretations, where each nine days Navaratri (Newar: नवरात्री) leading up to the 10th day called 'Dashami' carry special importance. The goddess Durga and her various manifestations are especially worshiped by Hindu Newars throughout the Shaktipeeths of Kathmandu Valley. Among Newars, Mwohni is also important for its emphasis on family gatherings as well as on a renewal of community ties, highlighted by special family dinners called Nakhtyā (Newar: नख्त्या) and various community processions of deities (Newar: जात्रा) throughout the three royal cities of Kathmandu Valley.