We’ve all heard Dashain mantras, but do we know what they mean?

From ‘Ayu Drona Sute’ to ‘Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini’, the mantras embody values of strength, wisdom, unity, and compassion.

Among the many joys of the upcoming Dashain festival, one is when elders place tika on the foreheads of the younger ones, accompanied by the chanting of sacred mantras. This ritual goes beyond the symbolic red mark; it is a moment of blessing, a prayer that carries wishes for long life, prosperity, courage, and wisdom.