Jamara
Step 1
Take barley seeds – many people also use maize/corn – and soak it overnight for the sowing tomorrow.
Step 2
Ghatasthapana is a sacred ritual, so hygiene is very important. The area to be used to sow the jamara should be clean. For this, select a dark corner of the house. If the jamara is to be sown on the floor, the tradition is to first daub the area with red mud or cow dung. A more feasible approach is to sow it on a tapari (leaf plate) or a clay pot with a wide rim.
Step 3
You can either plant the jamara in moist sand or clay bed. Make the soil bed 2/3 inches thick and spread the seeds evenly so that they don’t overlap each other. Then cover up the seeds with a thin layer of sand. You can also sprinkle some yellow or red soil to make the sand or soil more fertile.
Step 4
To grow the perfect jamara with slender stems and for the right lime green or yellowish color, you have to make sure that the seedling is not exposed to light. Cover up the entire bed after sowing the seeds with a vessel – preferably a clay vessel. Make sure the vessel is big enough so it does not obstruct the growth of the jamara. When exposed to light, the jamara becomes green and has thicker stems. It may not be ideal for the tika ceremony, but you can use it to display in small silver-colored flower vases to infuse your home with some Dashain décor.
Step 5
Sprinkle some water on a daily basis just enough to make the sand or soil bed moist but not soggy wet. If the sand you have used is moist already, you don’t need to water it daily; just ensure it is not dry during the ten days of planting and the growth required.
By the time of the Bijaya Dashami day – ten days after you have sowed the seeds – your jamara will be 4-8 inches long, looking fresh and beautiful for the Tika ceremony.
Happy jamara sowing! Happy Dashain!
