Dashain

Spices for Dashain

Dashain lasts 15 days, and the tenth day, Vijaya Dashami, is when elders place a tika of rice, yoghurt and red colour on the forehead of younger family members. Families reunite for a feast built around goat meat, cooked with a masala of cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic and fresh chilli, along with fresh timur or jimbu, achar made with sesame and sour fruit and a wheat-flour dish. The festival is the one time of year that many households eat meat in large amounts.

The spices

Sichuan pepperTimur is the characteristic Nepali pepper.SesameGround into pickles (achar).TurmericThe base for every curry.