Vendors selling grains and soil for Ghatasthapana

As Dashain, the main festival of Hindu Calender is coming up, street vendors are seen selling the essentials to make 'Jamara' in Basantapur.

Ghatasthapana, the first day of Dashain, is also the day where people start to plant Jamara at their homes. 

Anup Kumar Shrestha, street vendor explains, “ Soil and grains like barley, wheat, maize, sesame seed are essential to make jamara for tika. We have to mix all these seeds and plant them in the soil. At first, we put wet soil underneath, and then we plant grains in it. Wheat and maize make the Jamara leaf longer. Without it, jamara will just grow straight and thick. After planting the grains in the soil, we have to cover it with some soil from above and keep watering it. After two days, as the sprouts start growing, jamara will be ready in about 7, exactly at the time of Tika. For better result, I suggest mixing some mud in it before the process."