This is the biggest festival in Nepal and lasts fifteen days in all, although the main festivities are concentrated in nine days during which all government offices and schools are closed. It is long and lavishly celebrated. Dasain represents the victory of good over evil, as according to legend it commemorates the killing of a demon by the goddess Durga. The first day of the festival is known as Ghatasthapana- the placing of the sacred vessel where Barley seeds are planted in the sand and nurtured for 9 days. In the villages, large swings are set up. The next major event occurs on the 7th day of the festival, known as Phulpati. On this day sacred flowers and leaves are brought from the old palace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah in Gorkha. As flowers reach Kathmandu, there is a large procession to Hanuman Dhoka where brass bands are waiting to celebrate the occasion and guns and cannons are fired at the Tundikhel parade ground. The 8th day of the festival is known as Mahashtami and is marked by a fast by all orthodox Hindus. In the morning, animal sacrifices are carried out at temples dedicated to the Goddess Durga. Similar sacrifices are made throughout the country and on this day practically every household in Nepal eats meat.

On 9th day, vehicles and other mechanical items are worshipped and sacrificed so as to prevent accidents during the coming year. Similarly, all instruments, weapons and implements of all professions are worshipped. In the evening, there is an elaborate sacrifice at the Taleju temple near Hanuman Dhoka.

The peak of Dashain celebrations is reached on the 10th day known as Vijaya Dashami, the day of victory. On this day, all Hindus and Buddhists, in their fineries visit their elder to seek blessing and tika (a dab of red vermilion powder mixed with curd and rice) and shoots of the barley know as Jamara, (which are planted on the 1st day). As all visits cannot be completed in one day, they continue until the end of the festival, Kojagrat Purnima. The government offices are closed on the 1st day of the festival and from the 7th day to the end of the festival. New clothes, grand feasts and kites flying are the main highlights of Dashain.