Ko-jagrat Purnima: Last Day of Dashain Festival

Hindu and Newar Buddhist Nepalis celebrate one of the longest festivals called Dashain starting on the first day and ending on the full moon day of the bright fortnight of the Aswin in the Vikram calendar. During this fifteen-day festival, Nepalis make offerings to the various manifestations of Living Goddess Kumari and Goddess Durga Bhavani. This year, Dashain started on October 12, and ended on October 26. On the fourteenth day, Nepalis celebrate Ko Jagrat holding a nightlong vigil with the home lighted up for the Goddess of Wealth called Laxmi to visit them. Nepalis worship Goddess of Wealth in the evening, and keep themselves awake the whole night turning lights on anticipating the Goddess of Wealth visits them, and make them wealthy staying at their home. This is called Ko Jagrat, which literally means who can keep awake. Next day, the full moon day, early in the morning, Nepalis dispose of the sand, remains of the plants sown on the first day of Dashami and all the remains of the offerings made to the Goddesses in the nearest river ending the Dashain festival. On that day, Newar Buddhists clean Chaityas and stupas, and perform Buddha Puja. They believe that Swoyambhu appeared on this full moon day. Thus ends the Dashami festival for both the Hindus and Newar Buddhists. (SBR)