Wednesday morning marked a very special first for Waitākere College, as we raised Nepal’s national flag on campus to celebrate Dashain - one of the most important cultural festivals for Nepalis around the world.

Organised during Bijaya Dashami, the ceremony honoured Nepal’s rich art, traditions, and national identity. College representatives, local Nepali community leaders, students, and families gathered together for the event, showcasing the spirit of cultural recognition and mutual respect that makes our multicultural school community so vibrant.

We were also privileged to welcome representatives from Himal Pari Media to document this historic occasion for our school. You can read their full article and news report here on the Himal Pari website.

Our Principal, Mark Shanahan, highlighted the importance of embracing diversity across our school grounds:

"We try to educate our students about different cultures and traditions. We were pleased to raise the Nepali flag on the special occasion of Vijaya Dashami as a way of showing our respect for Nepali culture and national identity."

Seeing the flag fly proudly above the school was a beautiful way to conclude the Dashain celebrations for our Nepali students, staff, Board members, and their families.

Year 10 student Preesha Karmacharya shares her writing on Bijaya Dashami: 

As September/October rolls around, everyone's coming up with their next Halloween costume and how many candies they’re going to get. However, I look forward to something else: Bijaya Dashami (also known as Dashian, which I call it). 

What is Bijiya Dashami? Bijaya (victory) and Dashami (tenth day) are 10-day celebrations marking the triumph of good over evil. There are a few different ways people celebrate Dashain, some more common than others, and some that were popularised over time. 

Mythological aspect of Bijaya Dashami: One of the two mythological versions celebrates the power of women. A Hindu legend recounts a great battle between the gods and the demons, led by Mahishasur. Then the Goddess Durga was created, and it is believed there was a continuous war between Goddess Durga and Mahishasur in the first 9 days of Dashain. On the 10th day, the goddess won the battle. From then on, we celebrated women’s power by worshipping Goddess Durga. 

Nature Aspect of Bijaya Dashami: This tradition is also heavily related to nature. Back in the days when people used to worship nature, it was originally observed four times a year to honour the changing seasons, but the autumn version (Sharadiya Dashain) became the grandest holiday because it aligns with the most pleasant time of the year in Nepal. It takes place right after farmers finish planting their crops; fields are flourishing, and households are filled with fresh grains. People naturally draw a deep connection to this time from nature’s abundance and the beautiful scenery, while the warm sun hovers over the slightly chilly winds.  

How we celebrate this tradition: On the first day (Ghatasthapana), we sow barley seeds in the dark to grow jamara (sacred golden sprouts). Days 2-6 are followed by a cleaning of the entire house and worship of different manifestations of Goddess Durga. Day 7 (Phulpati) is when 9 types of sacred plants are brought into people's homes for blessings. Day 8 (Maha Ashtami) is when sacrifices and prayers are offered to Goddess Durga. Day 9 (Maha Navami) is the main day for worshipping anything that helps you create, travel, or earn a livelihood. Lastly, on day 10, elders apply red tika to their foreheads, give them fresh-cut jamara, and receive a gift (generally cash) as a blessing for protection and wisdom. Dashain has always been a special time for me. From the aroma of the food to dressing up, there are many things we do in our family that make up our Dashain. Whether we are telling our parents not to put too much tika on our foreheads or counting how much cash we are gifted, the day ends when we take our annual whole-big-family photo to commemorate it.

Share Your Cultural Milestones With Us!

We are always eager to acknowledge and celebrate the diverse heritage of our student body. If your family or student has an upcoming cultural festival or significant date you would like to share, please let us know!
Our school library regularly celebrates days of significance and offers a glass display cabinet and display tables where students are welcome to set up showcase displays to share their culture, heritage, and traditions with the rest of the school.

Photos by Himalpari Media (Ramhari Pandey)