Celebrating Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra) at YSJ London Campus
One of the most important festivals in South Asian culture, Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra), was celebrated at YSJ London Campus. Students, faculty, and alumni came together for a day of cultural performances, traditional ceremonies, and interesting workshops.
The celebration was organized by me, Sushil Bhusal, as a Liberation Officer at London Campus, with the support of the University’s Nepalese Society. To promote cultural understanding and harmony, we wanted to establish a welcoming environment where the YSJ community may enjoy and experience South Asian customs.
Here is a short story about celebrating Dashain festival in Nepal although this festival is one of the highlights in South Asian Communities and is celebrated to mark the Victory of Good over Evil.
About Dashain and its Importance
The largest and most extensively observed celebration in Nepal is Dashai, also known as Vijaya Dashami. Hindus in Nepal and the Nepali diaspora throughout the world commemorate this fifteen-day long festival, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil. For families and communities, the celebration holds great cultural and religious significance as it represents the triumph of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. In recent times, young people have also embraced this festival as an opportunity to reflect on their own lives, aiming to defeat the negativity within and establish goodness within themselves
Tika and Jamara are essential during Dashain. Elders apply tika, a concoction of rice and scarlet vermilion powder, to family members’ foreheads to bestow upon them longevity, wealth, and good health. Young barley grass, or jamara, is provided as a representation of growth and fertility. These rituals reflect the values of respect, unity, and the transmission of blessings across generations.
One of the highlights of our event was the Tika & Jamara ritual, which gave staff and students a chance to witness one of Dashain’s most significant elements – Elders. One of our lecturers, Sangita Pokhrel, bestowed blessings for a prosperous future by applying jamara and tika to the participants’ foreheads.
Vibrant Cultural Events
Additionally, there were traditional dance and music performances throughout the day, highlighting the diversity of South Asian culture. The audience was drawn into the festival’s pleasure and energy as performers in cultural costumes used traditional and folk-dance techniques to bring Dashain’s spirit to life.
Interactive Workshops and Community Engagement
In addition to the performances, audiences could take part in interactive workshops. In addition to arts and crafts activities, we held a session on kite–making, which is a popular tradition during Dashain. In this event, kite flying has a special role as a symbol of joy and freedom. The opportunity for participants to design and embellish their own kites enhanced the day’s enjoyment and sense of community.
Through the creation of these workshops, staff members and students from various backgrounds were able to interact, learn, and enjoy Nepalese customs. Everyone’s level of engagement, whether by crafts, seeing performances, or taking part in the rituals, was amazing.
Looking Ahead
Participants gave overwhelmingly good feedback, with many saying how much they enjoyed the chance to interact with South Asian culture. In addition to celebrating Dashain, this event helped the YSJ community gain a better understanding of Nepalese customs.
I am immensely grateful for the assistance of the YSJ Nepalese Society, YSJ London Campus and the larger University community, and I am extremely happy with the way the event went. Without the passionate participation of all participants and the commitment of our volunteers, the event would not have been possible.
To foster cross-cultural relationships and enhance the educational experience of both staff and students, we hope that this celebration will be a regular occurrence at York St John.
Author: Sushil Bhusal, Liberation Officer (London Campus Officer)
York St John University Student Union
If you like festivals as much as we do, you can read about Grace’s experience volunteering for the York International Shakespeare Festival.
