Madhu giving me the tikka blessing during the Dasain festival.

Dasain is a week-long celebration of the triumph of good over evil. Some of its many family-oriented traditions are reminiscent of the Western Christmas.

After repeatedly exchanging tikka blessings with family members and other intimates during Dasain, many Nepalis walk around with huge clumps of rice and red powder on their foreheads. I wore mine for most of the rest of the day.