Devotees visiting the Muktinath Temple in Mustang will be able to receive Dashain tika, jamara and blessings on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, with the shrine making arrangements to offer the rituals to the general public. Temple priest Krishna Prasad Subedi said the tika will be conferred on all devotees who arrive at the temple on the main day of the Dashain festival. The announcement carries added significance because Muktinath is a shared pilgrimage site, held sacred by Hindus and Buddhists alike, and the decision ensures that visitors from both communities can mark the festival together at one of Nepal's most distinctive places of worship.
Tika, Jamara and Blessings for Devotees
The offering was announced by temple priest Krishna Prasad Subedi, who said tika, jamara and blessings will be given to the general public on Vijaya Dashami, the most important day of the Dashain festival. The arrangement means that pilgrims, travellers and local devotees present at the temple on the day will be able to take part in the central ritual of Dashain, in which priests and elders apply a mixture of rice, vermilion and curd to the forehead and present sprouted barley shoots, known as jamara, as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity.
The announcement was reported by Nagarik News, which noted that the tika will be offered to the general public at the temple, and was also carried by Rato Pati, which highlighted the shrine's role as a common religious destination. For devotees planning to visit Mustang during the festival, the notice serves as advance confirmation that the Vijaya Dashami rituals will be observed at the temple.
The key details announced by the temple are as follows:
- What is being offered: Dashain tika, jamara and blessings
- When: On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, the main day of the Dashain festival
- Where: Muktinath Temple, Mustang district
- Who can receive it: The general public, as announced by temple priest Krishna Prasad Subedi
A Shrine Shared by Two Faiths
Muktinath occupies a rare position in Nepal's religious landscape. The temple is revered as a pilgrimage site by Hindus and Buddhists alike, and followers of both faiths have for generations offered worship at the shrine. This dual identity has made the temple a living example of religious coexistence, where rituals from the two traditions continue side by side within the same sacred complex.
It is precisely this shared character that makes the offering of Dashain tika at Muktinath noteworthy. Although Dashain is primarily celebrated by the Hindu community, the temple functions as a common religious destination, drawing devotees of both communities throughout the year. Extending the tika offering to the general public reflects the temple's inclusive spirit, ensuring that every visitor present on Vijaya Dashami can receive the festival's blessings regardless of which faith they follow.
The Rituals at the Heart of Dashain
Dashain is the greatest festival observed in Nepal, celebrated with devotion and family gatherings that culminate on Vijaya Dashami. Vijaya Dashami, observed on the tenth day of the festival, marks the peak of the celebrations, when elders apply tika, a mixture of rice, vermilion and curd, and distribute jamara, the yellow barley shoots germinated at the start of the festival, along with blessings for health, prosperity and success. Families travel across the country to reunite for the occasion, and temples are among the places where devotees seek these blessings.
For devotees who find themselves in Mustang this year, receiving tika, jamara and blessings from the temple priest at Muktinath allows them to observe the same ritual being performed in homes and temples across the country. The temple's announcement also gives pilgrims the opportunity to plan their journeys so that they arrive in time for the Vijaya Dashami observances.
Festival Blessings in the Mountains
Dashain is a season of movement in Nepal, as people travel to their hometowns and families while others undertake journeys to religious sites. At Muktinath, set in the mountains of Mustang, the priest will offer tika, jamara and blessings on Vijaya Dashami, giving pilgrims and travellers the chance to observe the country's biggest festival at a shrine where two faiths meet. For devotees unable to return home for the celebrations, the temple provides a place where the ritual can still be observed, and for all who make the journey, the festival's message of blessing and renewal will be extended openly to the general public.
