Dashain Tika Time 2026 in Nepal: Exact Time, Date, Rituals & Wishes

Dashain Tika in Nepal will be observed on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The official auspicious Tika time announced by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti is 10:26 AM Nepal Standard Time. Although this is the main auspicious moment, families can receive Dashain Tika throughout Vijaya Dashami.

That's the short answer to the Dashain Tika time 2026 question. Below you'll find the full Dashain calendar, the official Tika times for Nepalis abroad (the US, UK, Canada and Europe receive Tika on October 20, not October 21), the step-by-step ritual, and 50 original wishes you can send today.

Dashain Tika 2026

Source: Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti, as reported by The Rising Nepal and Onlinekhabar, October 2026.

What Are the Dashain 2026 Dates in Nepal?

Dashain 2026 runs for 15 days, from Ghatasthapana on Sunday, October 11 to Kojagrat Purnima on Sunday, October 25. The main Tika day, Vijaya Dashami, falls on Wednesday, October 21. The government has declared a 7-day public holiday from October 17 to 23, plus a holiday on Ghatasthapana.

Public holidays 2026: October 11 (Ghatasthapana) and October 17 to 23 (Dashain holiday), per the government's 2083 BS holiday list. Most offices reopen on Sunday, October 25.

Dates for minor days can vary slightly between calendars, because Nepal's festivals follow the lunar tithi. If a date matters for travel or a ceremony, check it against the official Nepali Patro for 2083.

Dashain Tika Time 2026: What Time Is Tika in Nepal?

The Dashain Tika time 2026 in Nepal, including Kathmandu, is 10:26 AM on Wednesday, October 21. The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti fixed this saait. Face west while receiving Tika. If you miss 10:26 AM, you can still receive Tika at any time on Vijaya Dashami.

Who Decides the Dashain Tika Saait?

The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti is the committee of astrologers and scholars that Nepal relies on to settle festival dates and auspicious times. Each year it works out the Tika saait (also called the muhurat) inside the Dashami tithi, the lunar day of victory.

The committee reads the Panchang, the traditional almanac, to find a moment when the tithi, the rising sign (lagna), the nakshatra (lunar mansion) and the time of day all line up favourably. That's why the time moves every year. It was 11:53 AM in 2025 and it's 10:26 AM in 2026, so never reuse last year's time.

What Happens on the Morning of Tika?

1. Early morning: families bathe, clean the puja room and prepare the Tika mixture.
2. 8:49 AM, Devi Bisarjan: the goddess invited at Ghatasthapana is ritually sent off. The Jamara is cut after this.
3. 10:26 AM, Tika saait: the head of the family gives the first Tika, usually starting with the closest relatives.
4. The rest of the day: relatives arrive and leave, and younger family members visit elders across town.

Can You Receive Tika Before or After the Saait?

After: Yes, without any doubt. Dr Purushottam Bhattarai, who chairs the Samiti, has said that Tika can be received throughout Vijaya Dashami, not only at the fixed hour. In practice, Nepali families keep receiving Tika from relatives for several days, right up to Kojagrat Purnima on October 25.

Before: most families wait for the saait for the first Tika of the day. If you have a genuine reason to leave earlier, such as a shift or a flight, ask your family priest (purohit). Customs differ from family to family.

What If a Family Member Can't Be There at 10:26 AM?

This is more common every year, with so many Nepalis working abroad. Some ways families handle it:

• Video-call Tika. Elders in Nepal give blessings over a video call at the saait, and the person abroad receives Tika from a local elder or applies it themselves.

• Keep their Jamara. Families set aside a bundle of Jamara and some Tika to send with someone travelling, or keep it for a later visit.
• Late Tika in person. Relatives who arrive late in the season receive Tika on any day up to Kojagrat Purnima.

Dashain Tika Time 2026 Abroad: USA, UK, Australia, India and the Gulf

Nepalis outside Nepal follow a separate local Tika time, because the Dashami tithi and local sunrise differ by location. For 2026, the Samiti's overseas times put the US, Canada and Europe on October 20, while Australia, India, the Gulf and East Asia receive Tika on October 21.

Official Dashain Tika Time 2026 by Country and City

These times were published by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti and reported by Onlinekhabar on October 7, 2026. All times are local time in each city.

Tika on Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Tika on Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Your city isn't listed? Use the nearest listed city in the same time zone as a guide, then confirm with your local Nepali community organisation, temple or embassy announcement.

Why Is Tika on October 20 in America and Europe?

Most people assume overseas Tika simply converts 10:26 AM Nepal time into local time. It doesn't. The Dashami tithi is a lunar period that begins and ends at a fixed universal moment. For time zones far behind Nepal, the auspicious window inside that tithi falls on the morning of the 20th by the local clock. So a family in New York receiving Tika at 10:11 AM on October 20 is following the same lunar day as a family in Kathmandu on the 21st.

What If Your Family Can't Gather at That Time Abroad?

October 20 and 21 are working days in most countries. Many diaspora families:

• Take Tika briefly at home at the saait before work, then celebrate properly on the weekend.

• Join a community Tika event organised by a Nepali association, often on the weekend of October 24 and 25.
• Video-call elders in Nepal. Watch the time difference: 10:26 AM in Kathmandu is late evening on October 20 on the US East Coast.

Because Tika can be received until Kojagrat Purnima, a weekend Tika gathering before October 25 is completely in keeping with tradition.

How Is the Dashain Tika Ceremony Done? Step by Step

On Vijaya Dashami, elders mix rice, red powder and yogurt into Tika, place it on the forehead of younger relatives, tuck Jamara behind their ears, and recite a blessing. Younger relatives bow, receive dakshina (money or a gift), and the family shares a festive meal. Visits to other relatives follow.

The Ritual, Step by Step

Preparing the Tika. Elders mix unbroken rice (akshata), red powder (abir or vermilion) and yogurt (dahi) in a plate. It should hold together without dripping.

Cutting the Jamara. After Devi Bisarjan, the barley shoots grown since Ghatasthapana are cut and bundled.

Taking your place. The younger person sits or kneels facing the elder. In 2026, the Samiti advises facing west while receiving Tika.

Applying the Tika. The elder presses the Tika onto the forehead with the fingers, usually starting with a small dab and then a larger press.

Placing the Jamara. The elder tucks Jamara behind the ears or places it on top of the head.

The blessing. The elder recites a Sanskrit verse or gives blessings in Nepali.

Dakshina and respect. The younger person bows (often touching the elder's feet) and receives dakshina, usually crisp new notes in an envelope.

Eating together. The family shares a feast, and then everyone heads out to collect Tika from other elders.

What Do Elders Actually Say?

Formal homes use a Sanskrit verse. The one most often recited for men and boys is:

Ayur drona sute shriyam dasharathe shatru kshayam raghave,aishwaryam nahushe gatishcha pawane manancha duryodhane,danam surya sute balam haladhare satyancha kunti sute,vigyanam vidure bhavatu bhavatam kirtishcha narayane.

It wishes you long life like Ashwatthama, wealth like Dasharatha, victory like Rama, honour like Duryodhana, generosity like Karna, strength like Balarama, truthfulness like Yudhishthira, wisdom like Vidura and fame like Narayana.

For women and girls, many families recite "Jayanti mangala kali bhadrakali kapalini, durga kshama shiva dhatri swaha swadha namostute," a verse praising the many forms of the Goddess.

Most grandparents, though, bless you in plain Nepali, and the blessing usually fits your stage of life. Students hear "pass hos" (may you pass), job seekers hear "jagir paos", and anyone still single at 28 will hear about marriage, every single year.

What Are the Tika Ingredients and What Do They Mean?

Red or white Tika? Most Hindu families use red Tika. Some families and communities, especially in parts of western Nepal, use white Tika made of rice and yogurt without colour. Households in mourning usually skip Tika that year. Neither practice is "more correct"; follow your own family.

Why new notes? In the weeks before Dashain, people queue at banks for fresh, uncreased notes, because giving old, folded money as dakshina feels careless. Nepal Rastra Bank releases new notes ahead of the festival for exactly this reason.

What Is Jamara in Dashain and Why Does It Matter?

Jamara is the sacred barley (sometimes mixed with maize or wheat) sown on Ghatasthapana in a dark puja room. Grown without sunlight for about ten days, it turns pale yellow-green. On Vijaya Dashami, elders place it behind the ears or on the head as a blessing from Goddess Durga.

How Families Grow Jamara

• Day 1 (Ghatasthapana, Oct 11): at the saait (11:47 AM in 2026), a priest or the head of the family fills a clay pot or tray with sand and soil, sows the seeds and sets up the kalash (sacred water vessel).
• Days 2 to 9: someone in the family waters the Jamara each morning and offers prayers. The room stays closed, and in many homes only those who did the rituals may enter.
• Day 10 (Vijaya Dashami, Oct 21): after Devi Bisarjan, the Jamara is cut, bundled and given with Tika.

Why Is Jamara Grown in the Dark?

Without sunlight, the shoots grow tall and turn a soft golden-yellow instead of green. That colour is part of the tradition. Families take quiet pride in a tall, even Jamara, and a poor crop sometimes gets read as a sign about the coming year.

What Do People Do with Jamara After Dashain?

Traditions differ. Some families keep dried Jamara in the puja room for the year. Others place it in holy books, give it to cattle, or put it in flowing water. Families who didn't sow their own simply buy fresh bundles from street sellers in Kathmandu the day before Tika.

Dashain Tika Wishes 2026 in English and Nepali

10 Short English Dashain Tika Wishes

1. May the Tika on your forehead carry the blessings of everyone who loves you. Happy Dashain!
2. Red Tika, green Jamara and a full house. Wishing you a Dashain that feels like home.
3. May good win over every hard thing you face this year. Happy Vijaya Dashami!
4. Wishing you health that lasts, luck that grows and a family that stays close. Happy Dashain 2026.
5. May this Dashain bring you the kind of peace that stays after the guests go home.
6. However far you are, may the blessings reach you on time. Happy Dashain!
7. May your year grow as steadily as the Jamara in a quiet puja room. Shubha Dashain.
8. Here's to full plates, long conversations and your elders' blessings. Happy Dashain!
9. May Goddess Durga give you courage for the battles nobody else sees. Happy Vijaya Dashami.
10. New beginnings, old traditions and the same warm love. Wishing you a joyful Dashain.

10 Dashain Wishes in Nepali (with Transliteration)

1. विजया दशमीको पावन अवसरमा सुस्वास्थ्य, सुख, शान्ति र समृद्धिको हार्दिक शुभकामना।Vijaya Dashamiko pawan awasarma suswasthya, sukha, shanti ra samriddhiko hardik shubhakamana. On the sacred occasion of Vijaya Dashami, heartfelt wishes for health, happiness, peace and prosperity. (The classic formal wish.)
2. बडा दशैंको टीका र जमराले तपाईंको जीवनमा नयाँ उमंग ल्याओस्।Bada Dashainko tika ra jamarale tapainko jiwanma naya umang lyaos. May the Tika and Jamara of Bada Dashain bring fresh joy to your life.
3. आमाबुवाको आशीर्वाद सधैं तपाईंको शिरमा रहोस्। दशैंको शुभकामना!Aamabuwako aashirwad sadhai tapainko shirma rahos. Dashainko shubhakamana! May your parents' blessings always rest on your head. Happy Dashain!
4. टाढा भए पनि मन नजिकै छ। यो दशैं सबैका लागि खुसीको होस्।Tadha bhae pani man najikai chha. Yo Dashain sabaika lagi khusiko hos. We may be far apart, but our hearts are close. May this Dashain bring joy to everyone.
5. रातो टीका, हरियो जमरा र आफन्तको माया। यही त हो दशैं!Rato tika, hariyo jamara ra aafantako maya. Yahi ta ho Dashain! Red Tika, green Jamara and the love of family. That's what Dashain is!
6. असत्यमाथि सत्यको जित भएझैं तपाईंका हरेक संघर्षमा जित होस्।Asatyamathi satyako jit bhaejhain tapainka harek sangharshama jit hos. Just as truth won over falsehood, may you win every struggle you face.
7. यो दशैंले घरमा हाँसो, भान्सामा मीठो बास्ना र मनमा शान्ति भरोस्।Yo Dashainle gharma haanso, bhansama mitho basna ra manma shanti bharos. May this Dashain fill your home with laughter, your kitchen with good smells and your heart with peace.
8. टीकासँगै तपाईंका सपना पूरा हुन्, मेहनतले मीठो फल पाओस्।Tikasangai tapainka sapana pura hun, mehanatle mitho phal paos. With this Tika, may your dreams come true and your hard work bear sweet fruit.
9. परदेशमा रहनुभएका सबै दाजुभाइ, दिदीबहिनीलाई दशैंको माया र शुभकामना।Pardeshma rahanubhaeka sabai dajubhai, didibahinilai Dashainko maya ra shubhakamana. Dashain love and best wishes to all our brothers and sisters living abroad.
10. चङ्गाझैं उचाइ छुनुहोस्, जमराझैं सधैं हरियो रहनुहोस्। शुभ दशैं!Changajhain uchai chhunuhos, jamarajhain sadhai hariyo rahanuhos. Shubha Dashain! Fly high like a kite and stay fresh like Jamara. Happy Dashain!

10 Dashain Captions for Instagram

1. Tika on, worries off.
2. Rato tika, hariyo jamara, full heart.
3. Wearing my blessings on my forehead today.
4. Jamara behind the ears, gratitude in the heart.
5. Home is wherever Aama puts the Tika.
6. Kite strings, bamboo swings and dakshina envelopes. That's Dashain.
7. Blessed, fed and slightly sleepy. Happy Dashain!
8. 10:26 AM and the whole house finally goes quiet.
9. Same courtyard, new Dashain, same old blessings.
10. Proof I went home for Dashain: the Tika's still on at 6 pm.

10 Facebook and WhatsApp Status Ideas

1. Tika done, blessings received, khasi ko masu on the way. Happy Dashain, everyone!
2. Missing home this Dashain, but the video-call Tika still counts. Love to everyone in Nepal.
3. To everyone squeezed onto a bus going home right now: you'll make it. Happy Dashain!
4. Grateful for every elder who put Tika on my forehead today.
5. Dashain reminder: call the relative you haven't spoken to all year.
6. Wishing everyone in my contacts a peaceful Vijaya Dashami. Drive safely on the highways.
7. Our Jamara grew tall and even this year. Small win, big smile. Shubha Dashain!
8. Tika saait in Nepal is 10:26 AM on October 21. Don't keep your grandparents waiting!
9. From our home to yours: subha Vijaya Dashami 2083.
10. This Dashain, may we fly kites higher than our worries.

5 Respectful Dashain Wishes for Elders

1. With folded hands, I wish you a long and healthy life. Your blessings are the Tika I carry all year. Happy Dashain.
2. Thank you for every Dashain you made special for us. May this one bring you good health and plenty of rest.
3. तपाईंको आशीर्वाद नै हाम्रो सबैभन्दा ठूलो सम्पत्ति हो। दीर्घायुको कामना सहित दशैंको शुभकामना।Tapainko aashirwad nai hamro sabaibhanda thulo sampatti ho. Dirghayuko kamana sahit Dashainko shubhakamana. Your blessing is our greatest wealth. Happy Dashain, with wishes for a long life.
4. Hajurbuwa, Hajuraama, may you see many more Dashains with all of us gathered around you.
5. I may be far from home this year, but I'm bowing to you from here. Please keep my share of the Jamara.

5 Professional Dashain Greetings

1. On behalf of everyone at Thrill Himalaya Treks, we wish you and your family a joyful Vijaya Dashami and a healthy year ahead.
2. Thank you for your trust this year. May this Dashain bring you and your team success, peace and prosperity.
3. Warm Dashain greetings from our team. Our office will be closed from October 17 to 23 and will reopen on Sunday, October 25.
4. Wishing our clients, partners and colleagues a meaningful Dashain 2026 and continued success together.
5. As we celebrate the victory of good over evil, we thank you for being part of our journey. Happy Vijaya Dashami!

What Should You Wear for Dashain Tika?

Wear traditional or neat festive clothes in warm colours such as red, orange, yellow, green or gold. Women often wear a sari or kurta suruwal; men wear daura suruwal with a Dhaka topi, or a smart shirt and trousers. Choose fabric you don't mind staining, because Tika drips.

Practical tips from years of Dashain mornings:

• Tika drips. Yogurt and red powder run down your face and onto your collar. Darker reds and patterned fabrics hide stains; white shirts don't.
• Carry a handkerchief. You'll want it after the fifth relative.
• Layer up. Late October mornings in Kathmandu start around 14 to 16°C and warm up to about 25°C by afternoon. Bring a light shawl or jacket for the evening.
• Wear slip-on shoes. You'll take them off at every house you visit.
• For family photos: take them right after the first Tika, while the Jamara is still fresh and the Tika hasn't slid.

Dashain in Nepal for Tourists and Trekkers

Dashain is a wonderful time to experience Nepali family culture, but plan around closures and crowds. Government offices, banks and many shops close from October 17 to 23, 2026. Buses and domestic flights fill up days before Fulpati and after Tika. Kathmandu grows quiet as residents head to their home villages.

What Is Kathmandu Like During Dashain?

The week before Fulpati (October 17), Kathmandu is packed: people shopping for clothes, goats being walked through the streets, and long queues at New Bus Park in Gongabu. Then the city empties. From Fulpati to Tika, roads that are usually jammed feel almost peaceful, and you can cross Kathmandu in 20 minutes.

What stays open: most hotels and restaurants in Thamel, major supermarkets, hospitals and tourist services. What closes: government offices (including permit counters on public holidays), banks, many local shops and small eateries. ATMs can run short of cash around Tika, so withdraw early.

What Can Travellers See During Dashain?

• Fulpati (Oct 17): sacred offerings arrive at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square with a ceremonial procession.

• Maha Astami and Maha Navami (Oct 18 and 20): temples such as Dakshinkali and the Kot area of Hanuman Dhoka see large crowds and traditional animal sacrifices. If that's upsetting for you, skip those sites on those days.

• Taleju Temple: traditionally opens to the public on Maha Navami, and the queue is long.
• Linge ping: tall bamboo swings go up in villages and some city neighbourhoods. Kids and adults take turns, and visitors are often invited to try.
• Kites: the sky over Kathmandu fills with kites in the afternoons.

Can Tourists Receive Dashain Tika?

Yes, if you're invited. Hotel owners, trekking guides and Nepali friends often invite guests to receive Tika. It's a sincere welcome, and accepting it is respectful. You don't need to give money. If you'd like to bring something, sweets or fruit for the family are perfect. Our guests on autumn treks are often invited to receive Tika from the teahouse family, and for many of them it becomes the moment they remember most.

Should You Trek During Dashain?

October is peak trekking season, and Dashain doesn't stop it. Lodges on the main routes stay open. Plan for three things:

1. Transport crunch. Buses to trailheads such as Besisahar, Syabrubesi and Soti Khola are packed before Fulpati and after Tika. Book private jeeps or flights early.
2. Fewer staff. Many guides and porters celebrate with their families. Book your team in advance with an agency that plans around the festival.
3. Permit offices. Government permit offices close on public holidays. Sort permits before October 17, or let your agency handle them in advance.

Trekking the Everest region? Lukla flights from Manthali keep running through Dashain, but seats are tight. See our guide to the Everest Base Camp Trek in November if you're travelling a little later.

Planning a trek around Dashain 2026 or 2027? Talk to a local trekking specialist on WhatsApp (+977 9851017941) or email [email protected]. We'll plan your dates around the festival so you get the culture without the transport headaches.

What Dashain Etiquette Should Foreign Visitors Know?

Accept Tika only if you're invited and comfortable. Dress modestly, take off your shoes at homes and temples, ask before photographing rituals or people, and don't touch sacred items. Greet people with "Namaste" and "Dashain ko shubhakamana," and be patient with closures.

• Accept Tika graciously, or decline politely. If you're not comfortable, a smile and "dhanyabad" (thank you) is fine. No one will be offended.

• Receive with both hands. Accept food, gifts or dakshina with your right hand or both hands.
• Bow your head slightly while an elder places Tika on you.
• Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered at temples and family gatherings.
• Shoes off at the doorway of homes, puja rooms and temples.
• Ask before you photograph. That goes for rituals, elders and especially sacrifices.
• Don't touch the kalash, the Jamara or puja items unless someone invites you to.
• Not every Nepali celebrates Dashain. Some Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Indigenous communities, including some Kirat groups, observe it differently or not at all. Don't assume.
• Be patient. Closed shops and late buses are part of the festival week.

Useful phrases:

• Namaste: hello, a respectful greeting
• Dashain ko shubhakamana: Happy Dashain
• Dhanyabad: thank you
• Dherai mitho chha: it's very tasty (you'll need this one)

Dashain Tika Time 2026: Frequently Asked Questions

What time is Dashain Tika in 2026?

The Dashain Tika time 2026 in Nepal is 10:26 AM Nepal Standard Time on Wednesday, October 21 (Kartik 4, 2083 BS), as fixed by the Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Bikas Samiti. Receive Tika facing west. Devi Bisarjan takes place earlier, at 8:49 AM. Nepalis abroad follow separate local times.

What is the Dashain Tika time in Nepal?

Everyone in Nepal, including Kathmandu, Pokhara and other cities, follows the same official saait: 10:26 AM on October 21, 2026. The head of the family usually gives the first Tika at this moment. After that, relatives receive Tika throughout the day and in the days that follow.

Can I receive Dashain Tika after 10:26 AM?

Yes. The chair of the Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti has confirmed that Tika can be received throughout Vijaya Dashami, not only at the auspicious moment. Nepali families also keep visiting relatives for Tika until Kojagrat Purnima, which falls on October 25 in 2026.

What is Dashain Tika made of?

Dashain Tika is a mixture of unbroken rice (akshata), red powder (abir or vermilion) and yogurt (dahi). Elders press it onto the forehead of younger relatives. Some families and communities, especially in parts of western Nepal, use white Tika made of rice and yogurt without any red colour.

What is Jamara in Dashain?

Jamara is barley, sometimes mixed with maize or wheat, sown on Ghatasthapana in a dark puja room. Grown without sunlight for about ten days, it turns pale yellow-green. On Vijaya Dashami, elders place it behind the ears or on the head as a blessing from Goddess Durga.

Why do elders give Tika during Dashain?

Dashain celebrates the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura, the triumph of good over evil. When elders give Tika, they pass that blessing to the younger generation, wishing them long life, success, wisdom and prosperity. It also renews family bonds, because relatives travel home to receive it.

What should I wear for Dashain Tika?

Wear traditional or neat festive clothing in warm colours like red, orange, yellow or gold. Women often wear a sari or kurta suruwal, and men wear daura suruwal with a Dhaka topi or smart casual clothes. Choose fabrics that hide stains, because Tika drips easily.

Can tourists receive Dashain Tika in Nepal?

Yes. Tourists are often invited to receive Tika by host families, hotel owners or trekking guides. Accept if you're comfortable, bow your head slightly and thank your host. Money isn't expected. Small gifts like sweets or fruit are a kind gesture. Always ask before photographing anyone.

What are the best Dashain Tika wishes in English?

A simple, heartfelt wish works best, for example: "May the Tika on your forehead carry the blessings of everyone who loves you. Happy Dashain!" or "May good win over every hard thing you face this year. Happy Vijaya Dashami!" Personal wishes always land better than forwarded messages.

What are the best Dashain Tika wishes in Nepali?

A classic formal wish is "विजया दशमीको पावन अवसरमा सुस्वास्थ्य, सुख, शान्ति र समृद्धिको हार्दिक शुभकामना।" (Vijaya Dashamiko pawan awasarma suswasthya, sukha, shanti ra samriddhiko hardik shubhakamana), meaning heartfelt wishes for health, happiness, peace and prosperity on Vijaya Dashami.

How long does Dashain last in 2026?

Dashain 2026 lasts 15 days, from Ghatasthapana on Sunday, October 11 to Kojagrat Purnima on Sunday, October 25. The busiest stretch runs from Fulpati on October 17 to Tika on October 21. The government's main Dashain holiday runs from October 17 to 23.

Is Nepal closed during Dashain 2026?

Not entirely. Government offices, banks, schools and many local shops close from October 17 to 23, 2026. Hotels, most Thamel restaurants, hospitals and trekking services keep running. Expect very crowded buses and flights before Fulpati and after Tika, and withdraw cash early in case ATMs run low.

What is the difference between Dashain and Vijaya Dashami?

Dashain, or Bada Dashain, is the whole 15-day festival, from Ghatasthapana to Kojagrat Purnima. Vijaya Dashami is its tenth and most important day, when families exchange Tika and Jamara. People often use the names interchangeably, but Vijaya Dashami is specifically the Tika day: October 21, 2026.

How can Nepalis abroad find their Dashain Tika time?

The Nepal Panchanga Nirnayak Samiti publishes Tika times for major overseas cities each year. In 2026, the US, Canada and Europe receive Tika on October 20 (for example, New York at 10:11 AM and London at 10:55 AM), while Sydney is 9:21 AM on October 21. Confirm with your local Nepali community.

Should You Experience Dashain in Nepal?

If you want to understand how Nepali families really live, Dashain is the best week of the year to be here. You'll see three generations crowded into one living room, smell goat curry from every kitchen, and you may well leave someone's home with red rice on your forehead and Jamara behind your ear.

The trade-off is logistics. Offices close, buses overflow, and some small businesses shut for a week. If you plan around October 17 to 23, book transport early and carry enough cash, Dashain becomes a highlight of your trip rather than a headache.

Plan your Nepal trip around Dashain Tika, confirm the official Tika time for your location, and experience Nepal's biggest festival with respect and curiosity.