How Villagers Celebrate Dashain in Annapurna Region
The Annapurna region is one of the most loved trekking areas in Nepal. It is the region where the world’s deadliest mountain is located, Annapurna I. The Annapurna region is home to rare flora and fauna, different ethnicities and the highest snowy mountains.
The trails in Annapurna are full of rhododendron forests, stone ladder trails, and warm villages. You see Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and other peaks that feel close enough to touch. Treks here can be short or long, easy or hard, but always rewarding.
You don’t just walk, you connect. With nature. With people. With yourself. One of the best treks that you can do in this region is Annapurna Base Camp Trek where you will be closely observing mountain ranges, porters carrying heavy loads, locals celebrating festivals like Dashain, early morning sunrise, warm interaction with locals and cozy teahouse experience.
Dashain in the Heart of the Hills
In the Annapurna region, Dashain isn’t just a festival, it’s a feeling. It’s the time when the slow mountain life turns lively, when laughter echoes through the valleys, and every home smells of fresh food and incense.
Even the trails feel different, warmer and more alive. You walk through villages and see kids flying kites, families gathered on porches, and prayer flags dancing in the wind.
Coming Home, No Matter How Far
Dashain is when everyone comes home. Sons from cities, daughters from distant villages and all return to their roots. Homes that stay quiet most of the year suddenly fill with voices, footsteps, and warmth.
It’s reunion season. Even the elders, wrapped in thick wool shawls, sit a little longer in the sun, smiling as stories pass between generations.
Tika, Blessings, and Goat Curry
On the main day of Dashain, elders put tika, which is red and white paste with rice, on the foreheads of younger family members. Along with blessings, they give jamara (yellow barley shoots) and wish for long life and happiness.
Then comes the feast. Goats are often sacrificed as part of the tradition, and every house smells of spicy goat curry, beaten rice, and home-brewed raksi. It’s loud, happy, and full of heart.
New Clothes, Old Traditions
Dashain is the time when even the humblest homes bring out something special. Villagers wear new clothes, bright saris, fresh daura suruwal, or simple new shawls. Children beam with pride in their outfits, spinning around to show them off.
But beneath the new fabric lies something deeper: old traditions kept alive. The rituals, the songs, the food, the way grandparents bless with quiet wisdom, it all ties the present to the past. In the Annapurna hills, Dashain isn’t about grand displays. It’s about the beauty of simple things, passed down and proudly worn, year after year.
The Whole Village as One Big Family
In these mountain villages, Dashain isn’t just for one house; it’s for the whole community. Neighbours move from house to house, sharing food, music, and laughter.
Someone plays the madal (drum), and kids dance in circles. People who don’t have much still share what they can. The feeling is simple but powerful: no one is alone.
Mountains, Myths, and Memories
The Himalayas stand tall in the background, quiet witnesses to the celebration. For the villagers, Dashain is not just a ritual, it’s a reminder of stories passed down, of gods and goddesses, of right winning over wrong. But mostly, it’s about being together, about holding on to what matters when the cold winds come.
A Festival That Stays with You
If you’re ever trekking in the Annapurna region during Dashain, slow down. Stay a while in a village. Accept the invitation for tea, take the tika with a humble smile, and join the circle of strangers who treat you like family.
In those quiet moments of joy, you’ll realise that Dashain here is more than a festival. It’s a feeling that stays in your heart, long after your boots leave the trail.