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Bhutanese Community of Central PennsylvaniaEst. 2011Harrisburg, PA

दशैं–तिहार मेला

BCCPA Mela on the river

The community’s annual Dashain–Tihar day on the banks of the Susquehanna. Greet the elders, see old friends, fly a kite — and bring the whole family. Entry is free.

  • DateSUN, OCT 18
  • Time10 AM – 6 PM
  • PlaceRiverfront Park
  • EntryFree
Reserve free entryWalk there

Maha Ashtami · the eighth day of Dashain

 

01The day

On the eighth day of Dashain, the whole community comes down to the river.

दशैंको अष्टमीका दिन, सारा समुदाय नदी किनारमा भेला हुन्छ।

  • 15days of Dashain
  • 5days of Tihar
  • 1day on the riverfront
  • $0to come in

02The festival calendar · 2026

Thirty-one days, two festivals.

Dates fixed by Nepal’s Panchanga Nirnayak Bikash Samiti. Tika time is given for Nepal; in Harrisburg it falls just after midnight.

  1. घटस्थापनाGhatasthapanaJamara is sown; Dashain begins
  2. फूलपातीFulpatiThe sacred flowers come home
  3. महाअष्टमीMaha AshtamiBCCPA Mela on the riverfrontwe meet here
  4. महानवमीMaha NavamiWorship of tools and vehicles
  5. विजया दशमीVijaya DashamiTika at 10:26 AM in Nepal — 12:41 AM here
  6. लक्ष्मी पूजाLaxmi PujaEvery home lit with diyo
  7. भाइटीकाBhai TikaSisters bless their brothers
Dashain tika: red tika rice and a bundle of jamara on a brass plate, a brass diyo and marigolds
Tika, jamara, sayapatri — the plate every elder keeps ready.

03Bada Dashain

Fifteen days of blessings.

Dashain celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura — good over evil. Families sow jamara on Ghatasthapana and, on Vijaya Dashami, receive tika — rice, yoghurt and red vermilion — and jamara from their elders, with blessings for the year ahead.

  1. जमराJamara sown in the dark on the first day
  2. टीकाTika and ashirbad from the elders
  3. चङ्गाKites over every rooftop
  4. पिङBamboo swings in every neighbourhood
  5. भोजA table where nobody eats alone
Tihar: diyo lamps and a rangoli beneath a carved peacock window, sel roti on a brass plate
Diyo on the step, rangoli at the door, sel roti on the plate.

04Tihar · Deepawali

Five days of light.

Tihar honours the crow, the dog and the cow, then Goddess Laxmi on the night every home glows with diyo, rangoli and marigolds. Children sing deusi–bhailo from door to door, and the festival ends with Bhai Tika — sisters give their brothers the seven-colour tika and a makhamali garland for a long life.

  1. कागKag Tihar — the crow, messenger
  2. कुकुरKukur Tihar — the dog, guardian
  3. गाईGai Tihar and Laxmi Puja
  4. गोरुGoru Puja · Mha Puja
  5. भाइटीकाBhai Tika

05Getting there

Park on the island. Walk across the river.

  • 0.9miles
  • 17minutes
  • 1bridge, on foot

Riverfront Park, Harrisburg, PA. Parking on City Island, beside FNB Field.

Open in MapsThe organisers’ route map

06Entry

Free for everyone. Tell us you’re coming.

There is no charge to come in. Reserve a free pass so BCCPA knows how many to welcome — one code per person, emailed to you.

Tickets

  • Free entry

    Free — reserve so the organisers know you are coming. One code per person.

    Free

    0
No tickets selected$0.00

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Refund policy

Tickets are non-refundable, except in unforeseen circumstances such as severe weather. If the night is cancelled, every ticket is refunded in full. If it is postponed, the ticket you already hold is honoured on the new date. Refund requests made at least 24 hours before the night begins are also honoured.

07Questions

Before you come.

01When is the mela?

Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 10 AM to 6 PM.

02Does it cost anything?

No — entry is free. Reserve a free ticket so the organisers know how many to expect.

03Where do I park?

At the City Island lots beside FNB Field, reached over the Market Street Bridge.

04How do I walk to the mela?

Cross the Walnut Street Bridge — the old iron bridge just north of the lots, for people on foot and bikes only — to Front Street, turn right (south) onto the riverside path and follow it past the Market Street Bridge and under the first railroad bridge (the one that crosses City Island’s tip). The mela is just beyond it on Riverfront Park.

05Who is it for?

Everyone — families, friends and neighbours who want to celebrate Dashain and Tihar together.

Bhutanese Community of Central Pennsylvania (BCCPA)

विजया दशमी तथा शुभ दीपावलीको हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना

Warmest wishes for Vijaya Dashami and a bright Deepawali — see you on the river.

Reserve free entryDirections

Presented by Bhutanese Community of Central Pennsylvania (BCCPA) · Hosted on GoldenDoko Events