Dashain

Daishan is the largest festival of the year in Nepal. It celebrated in the Nepalese month of Kartik, in late September and early October. Dashain is celebrated in the bright lunar fortnight (14 days, not the video game) leading up to the full moon. Dashain celebrates the victory of the gods over the demons, particularly the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasur, who terrorized the earth as a water buffalo. On the first day, which is called Ghatasthapana, a sacred water vessel, known as the kalash, is placed in a room. The kalash is filled with cow dung, and seeds are put into it. The holy grass that grows in the kalash is called Jamara. Regular rituals are observed until the seventh day. On the seventh day, called Fulpati, the royal kalash, Jamara, and sugarcane are paraded in the streets. Dashain feasting begins on this day. On the eighth day, called the Maha Asthami, sacrifices are made. During the night, called Kal Ratri, or the dark night, hundreds of animals are sacrificed in the temples of the mother goddess. On the Nawami, the ninth day, hundreds upon thousands of animals are sacrificed. On the tenth through fourteenth days, you receive blessings from your elders. On the fifteenth, time is spent resting at home and worshiping the god of wealth. I personally think the animal sacrifices make me a bit queasy, so I don't think this is an event I would be too excited to participate. How about you?

More info: http://www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/dashain.php