KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel will not be offering Dashain tika to the general public today on the occasion of Bada Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival.
According to the Office of the President, the traditional tika ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Sheetal Niwas, has been cancelled in light of the current adverse situation in the country.
While it has been customary for the Head of State to offer tika to the public every year during Bada Dashain, no such program has been scheduled this time, the statement added.
Bada Dashain, also known as Bijaya Dashami, marks the conclusion of a nine-day worship of Sri Durga Bhawani in Dashain Ghar. On the tenth day, the ritual of abhishek—the sprinkling of holy water—formally begins the tika ceremony.
Tika and jamara are considered sacred blessings from Goddess Nawa Durga, symbolizing prosperity, protection, and victory over evil.
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