October 22: Her Royal Highness Ashi Chimmi Yangzom Wangchuck, the Prime Minister Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji and senior government officials attended the Dasian festival in the capital on Saturday.

The festival is celebrated by followers of Hinduism and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Hundreds of people gathered at the PWD colony in the capital to celebrate the festival. It marks the conclusion of the nine day Durga Puja.

The Dasain festival in the capital was organized by the Department of Culture every year.

Senior government officials including the Director General of the Department of Culture Dasho Sangay Wangchuk attended the festival and received Tika.

Dasian marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya, an ancient city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, after his victory over Ravana, the king of Lanka. It is preceded by the nine day Durga Puja which is an invocation to goddess Durga for peace and prosperity.

The festival is also an occasion for family get together with relatives from various parts of the kingdom traveling home to spend time with their family.

The Director General of the Department of Culture Dasho Sangay Wangchuk explained the significance of the festival.

The Dashain ceremony was declared a national holiday from 1980.