Festivals of Nepal
Nepal is distinctly known as the world of colorful vibrant
festivals celebrated in pretext of socio-cultural heritages. It is
said that "In Nepal every other building is a temple and every
other day is a festival." Nepalese are said to observe more
festivals than there are days in a year. There are different kinds
of festivals celebrated to honor Hindu and Buddhist gods/ goddesses
and others to recreate important events from ancient mythology and
epic literature.
The rich cultural heritage of Nepal is best expressed in the
many large and small festivals that occur throughout the year.
Though the Nepalese have diverse beliefs and ethnic backgrounds,
all unite in the celebration of the year's major festivals.
Festivals such as Dashain and Tihar are of national significance;
such as Bisket Jatra or Red Machchhendranath Jatra, belong to the
traditions of the old Valley towns and still others, such as Mani
Rimdu, are observed only by a particular ethnic community. This
book is an effort for the vivid portrayal of these festivals and
other event of Nepal and also provides the subtle insights about
the special events, activities, happenings of local, national and
international signifi cance in Nepal within the calendar year 2067.
Visit to Nepal, no matter which time of the year, promises a
colorful and rewarding festive experience !
July/August 2011
Gathan-Muga (Ghantakarna)
(29 July)
Gathan-muga is also called Gathemangal or Ghantakarna. At the
time me when local community used to rely heavily on agriculture
for livelihood, they were very superstitious about evil spirit
spelling evilness onto their harvest. They consulted a famous
Tantric to permanently ward off this fear. People were told to put
on iron rings on fingers and hammer iron nails into door lintels to
drive away evil spirit.
Nag Panchami
(4 August)
Nepalese worship snake gods, also called the Nagas during this
festival. In the ancient time Nagas halted rain from pouring over
Nepal. The king of that time also happened to be a Tantric and so
he used his power to make Nagas let go of rain. The king succeeded
in doing so but he also honored the majestic power of Nagas by
turning the day of victory into a festive occasion of Nag Panchami.
On Nag Panchami, devotees put a picture of Nag high above their
doorway and perform puja with necessary puja items. Off erings in
the form of food are let in the yards and paddies for snakes.
Janai Poornima and Rakshya Bandhan
(13 August)
On Janai Poornima, a full moon day, high-caste Hindus chant the
powerful Gayatri mantra and change their Sacred Thread(janai),
while a raksya bandhan, a red or yellow protect on cord, is tied
around the wrists of other Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims journey
to Gosaikunda (sacred lake). They pray to Lord Shiva by bathing in
the sacred lake. Kumbheswar Mahadev temple at Patan is also crowded
with pilgrims where a pond is specially prepared for the
festival.
Gai Jatra
(14 August)
The gai or cow, is holy to Hindus as she represents Laxmi, the
goddess of wealth. It is believed that she guides the souls of the
departed to the gates of the heaven. Gai Jatra is an occasion for
satire, jokes and colorful processions. People who have lost their
family members take comfort in the fact that the holy cow has
safely transported the departed souls on their at erlife journey.
Children dressed up as cows, and sadhus as well as other whimsical
characters of all sorts fi ll the streets. Special issues of local
magazines are circulated full of satire and jokes of reputed and
famous people.
August/September 2011
Krishnastami
(21 August)
Krishnashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna the hero of the
Hindu epic Mahabharata. Devotees flock to the ancient Krishna
temple in Patan Durbar Square to worship and receive blessings. It
is celebrated across the country at the temples of lord Krisna. In
Kathmandu, decorated statues and pictures of Lord Krishna are
displayed at many places.
Gaura Parba
(21 August)
Gaura Parva is celebrated in far western Nepal honoring Lord
Krishna's birthday. The Deuda dance is a major part of the
festivities in which part cipants hold hands and form a circle as
they step to traditional music.
Father's Day (Gokarna Aunsi)
(29 August)
Gokarna Aunsi is the most auspicious day to honour ones father
for his guidance and teachings in life. It is the day when sons and
daughters, near or far, come with presents and confections to spend
the day with their father. It is also known as Kuse Aunsi which
falls on the dark fortnight. People who do not have a living father
go to Gokarna Mahadev Temple situated in the north - east of
Kathmandu. People perform rituals and off er grains, vegetables and
fruits to priests present for the occasion.
Teej
(31 August)
Teej is a Hindu married woman's day for her man. Married and
unmarried women crowd Pashupatinathand other temples of lord shiva.
Women dressed in beautiful red saris with shining glass beads
(Pote), singing and dancing is a common sight during this festival
as women recall Parbati's devot on to her husband Shiva. It is
believed that married women fast on this day for longivity of their
husbands and will see the bond of love grow. Unmarried women fast
on this day to have good looking husbands. Married women visit
their fathers' homes. All daughters and sisters receive gifts from
their male kin, and an elaborate feast is prepared for them. It's a
loud and cheerful celebrate on until late at night, when strict
fasting begins. The blessings of Shiva and Parbat ensure that
family life will be joyous for all.
Indra Jatra
(11 September)
It is believed that many centuries ago, Indra (King of Heaven)'s
mother needed specially scented fl owers (Parijat). Indra looked
for them but could not fi nd in heaven. Indra discovered Parijat
flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his
mother. He was caught and imprisoned by people in the Valley.
Indra's mother came searching for him and the people were shocked
to know what they had done. They released Indra and dedicated one
of the most colorful festivals of Nepal to him to calm down his
anger. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask
dancing and jubilation. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess
along with chariots of Bhairab and Ganesh are taken through the
main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. Masks and statues
representing Vishnu, Bhairab, and Shiva are shown to the public.
Various masked dances like Pulu Kishi ( elephant dance), Lakhe,
Sawa Bhaku and Mahankali dances are performed at various places.
Indra is thanked for the rains and assured once again that he is
respected in the Kathmandu Valley.Kathmandu
Dashain
(28 September-6 October)
Dashain is the longest and most favorite festival of Nepal.
Skies of Kathmandu filled with kites. Big swings are set on the
grounds for children and grown ups alike. Animals like buff aloes,
goats, ducks and chickens are sacrifi ced to the goddess Durga on
Kal Ratri (the dark night) to celebrate her victory over evil.
Following day, on Nawami, people clean their vehicles and sacrifi
ce animals or eggs for safe journey throughout the year. The next
day, on Dashami (Tika), people dress up well and visit elders to
receive large red tikas of vermilion paste on their foreheads. In
the following days of Dashain, families and friends unite, feasts
are consumed, blessings are imparted and gifts are exchanged.
Tihar
(26-28 October)
Tihar is celebrated as the second biggest festival after Dashai.
It is the Festival of Lights tinsel decorations and sweets. On diff
erent days, people worship crows, dogs, cows and oxen with
vermilion, garland and delicious food for their important role in
the society. On the night of Lakshmi Puja,Houses are cleaned and
decorated with candles, oil lamps and other lights with the belief
that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is bright and
cleanest. Garlands are hung at the doors and windows and lamps are
lit to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, into the homes, shops
and workplaces. Newar community in Nepal also observes Mha puja, a
ritual of worshipping one's own body and soul to remain healthy and
happy for the rest of the year. On Bhaitika, the last day of the
festival is the day when sisters make off erings to their brothers
for their longivity to safeguard the lives of his sisters and
brothers in return reward them with valuable goods. The rituals of
breaking a walnut, puting on garlands of Makhamali fl owers and
encircling brothers in rings of mustard oil are performed to
protect them from Yama, lord of the death.
Nepal Sambat
(27 October)
According to local legends, a citizen of Kathmandu named
Sankhadhar Sakhwa paid off the debts of all the people in Nepal. To
commemorate the event, a new era was established known as Nepal
Sambat. Newar community from all over the country mark the new year
with different festivities and cultural programmes. The Nepal
Sambat follows the lunar calendar. It consists of 354 days per year
and an added one month every third year. This calendar came into
being and into offi cial use during the reign of king Raghabdev,
immediately after the complete on of Mandev Sambat 304 (881 AD).
Nepal Sambat is an unique calendar in the whole world as all other
calendars are named after some rulers or religious leaders where as
Nepal Sambat is the only calendar which is named after a country.
Gorkha king Prithvi Narayan Shah brought Shaka Sambat into offi
cial use after conquering Kathmandu in 1769 AD.
Chhath Parva
(1 November)
This festival is commonly celebrated by people living in Terai.
In recent year this festival has been celebrated in the other parts
of the country. Men and women prepare special dishes made up of
special rice and molasses and taste them after an audience to the
sun. They take a dip in sacred rivers, ponds, lakes etc. During the
four-day-festival, the devotees worship the rising and setting sun.
They have a belief that worshipping the sun will bring prosperity
and happiness to their family members. Local people say that the
festival has become more important after migrants from the hills
also adopted it as their own cultural asset.
Mani Rimdu
(10-13 November)
Mani Rimdu is the most important festival in Tengboche. Trips to
the Everest region can be rewarding if they can be organized during
the days of the festival. It consists of nine days of ceremonies
and meditation (Drupchen). This is concluded by a special blessing
ceremony given by Tengboche Rinpoche to the public and the world
renowned Mask Dances performed by the monks at Tengboche
Monastery.
Bala Chaturdasi
(24 November)
It is another festival to appease the souls of the dead for any
wrong committed against them while they were still alive. The rites
of this Chaturdasi are in honor of Bala, a burning ghat laborer who
accidentally ate a piece of burnt flesh and became a demon addicted
to cannibalism. Several different stories narrate the tale but the
motif common to all is that Bala was tricked by a gesture of
friendship and killed. His vanquisher then began the custom of
scattering grains for the dead this day, to atone for the fatal
subterfuge. The mela begins at dusk the evening, prior, with
devotees assembling in the vicinity of Pashupatinath for all night
vigils. Ceremonies and ritual bathing begin at dawn, followed by a
long, 2-3 hour procession through a rough course over which the
participants scatter grains. This continues until a horn sounds the
Terminate on inthe evening.
Bivah Panchami
(29 November)
The day (festival) is celebrated to mark the marriage of lord
Ram and Sita as all the people of the Hindu world know the story of
the marriage of the Ram and the princess Sita, as told in the epic
Ramayana. King Janak, Sita's father, proposed a test of strength
for the suitors of his daughter: to string the great bow of Lord
Shiva. Warriors, kin-s and chieftains came from afar, but no man
could even lit the bow. Ram lifted the bow with ease and when he
tried to string it, the bow shat- tered into pieces. Ram and Sita
were married in Janakpur, now in southern Nepal, and their marriage
is celebrated to this day. Each year, idols of Ram and Sita are
brought out in procession and their Hindu wedding ceremony is
re-enacted during a weeklong religious fair. Bibah Panchami refl
ects the devote on of Hindus to Ram, perhaps the most popular among
the incarnations of Vishnu, and to Sita, the model of the ideal
Hindu woman.
Udhouli Parba (Kirant Parba)
(10 December)
Udhouli festival is celebrated by Kirat, Rai and Limbu ethnic
groups during the harvest season which falls in the month of
November/December, mainly to exhibit the gratefulness to the nature
for the plentiful harvest and to receive the approval to harvest
from the land. The literal definition of Udhouli is the migration
of animals and birds from northern higher region down to warmer
southern low lands. This migration towards south gave the festival
its name Udhouli literally meaning downward movement.
Yomari Punhi
(10 December)
People of the Kathmandu Valley offer worship to Annapurna, the
goddess of grains, for the rice harvest on this full moon day.
According to the legends Suchandra and Krita, a married couple,
first experimented with fresh yield of rice from their field at
present day Panauti in ancient times. And what took shape turned
out came to be known as yomari. The new delicacy was eventually
distributed among the villagers. As the food was liked by all, the
bread was named yomari, which literally means 'tasty bread' in
Newari language. A yomari is a confection of rice-fl our (from the
new harvest) dough shaped like fi g and filled with brown cane
sugar and sesame seeds, which is then steamed. This delicacy is the
chief item on the menu during the post-harvest celebration of
Yomari Punhi. Groups of kids go neighborhood to beg yomari cakes
from housewives in the evening. Sacred masked dances are performed
in the villages of Hari Siddhi and Thecho at the southern end of
the Valley to mark the festival.
Christmas
(25 December)
Christian community of Nepal celebrates Christmas on 25th
December. Christmas is a fun-filled festival that harmonizes
family. It brings together lost family together. A Christmas tree
is decorated with exquisite decorative items. Gifts are placed
hidden under the Christmas tree. Children are led to believe that
Santa Claus has let their gifts hidden under the Christmas tree.
After receiving gifts family members sit together for lavish
dinner. The special menu set for the day is turkey.
December 2011/January 2010New Year Eve
(31 December)
Christian New Year is celebrated in all major cities, specially
in Thamel of Kathmandu and Lake Side of Pokhara. All the major
hotels and restaurants organize special parties for the
occasion.
(30 December)
Abiding the lunar calendar Tamang, Magar, Gurung and other
Himalayan communities of Nepal celebrate Tamu Lhosar as their New
Year during the month of December. Monasteries are attractively
adorned with colorful decorative items. People take blessings from
monks for their progress, prosperity and happiness. Each home
raises a fl ag on top of its roof. A party is organized at home and
invitations are forwarded to relatives and friends. Delicious food,
music and dance become the essence of party. Greetings and gifts
are exchanged.
The government of Nepal in consultation with Nepalese Tourism
Industry, concerned organizations and experts decided to launch a
national tourism campaign "Nepal Tourism Year 2011".
This announcement refl ects the government's anticipation to
bring into at least one million international tourists in Nepal by
the year 2011 and spread the benefits of tourism to the people at
large. The national campaign also indicates the tourism industry's
exigency to organize a tourism promotion campaign having wider
impact. Various programs at government level, private sector and
other tourism related stake holders have been organizing various
events and activities round the year.
(15 January)
In the holy month of Magh the sun enters the southern
hemisphere, and the days begin to grow longer and warmer. Lord
vishnu the Preserver is thanked for his eff orts. On Maghe
Sankranti (the first day of Magh) people take an early morning bath
in a holy river, visit the shrines of Vishnu, and present flowers,
incense and food to him. They read the Bhagwad Gita, also known as
The Song of the Gods, apply mustard oil over their bodies, and
enjoy feast of rice cooked with lentles, yams or tarul-a must-and
till ko laddu, sweets made of seasame and jaggery (sugarcane
paste). People from many parts of the country rush to Devghat, a
confluence of three rivers, to take holy bath in the river on this
day.
Lhosar
(24 January)
Sherpas and Tibetans welcome their New Year with feasts, family
visits and dancing. Families done their finest clothes and
jewellery and exchange gifts. Buddhist monks offer prayers for good
health and prosperity, and perform dances at the monasteries.
People wear new clothes and finest jewelries and exchange gifts
during the festival. Colorful prayer flags decorate streets and
rooftops; the colors seem especially brilliant at the Bouddha and
Swayambhu stupas. Crowds of celebrants at Bouddha bring in the New
Year by throwing tsampa (roasted barley fl our) into the air.
(28 January)
Basanta Panchami is also called Shri Panchami or Saraswoti Puja
and is celebrated in the honor of Goddess Saraswoti , goddess of
knowledge and learning. This day is very special for students. They
take early morning bath, wear clean clothes, worship their books
and visit temple of goddess Saraswoti with puja items. Students
believe that worshipping the goddess on this day broadens up their
knowledge horizon and their studies will progress further
fruitfully. Parents who have toddlers at home take them to temples
and make them write on the walls of the temple. This day also bears
cultural and religious significance for Buddhists who prioritize
this day for worshipping God Manjushree. At Hanuman Dhoka in
Kathmandu offi cial announcement is made indicating the arrival of
spring. Astrologically, Shri Panchami is an ideal day for couples
to the a marriage knot and also for new born babies' name-giving
sacrament called nwaran.
(20 February)
Shivaratri meaning the night of Lord Shiva is one of the major
festivals of Nepal. Hundreds of thousands of followers from diff
erent parts of country and India crowd the Pashupatinath temple -
one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus in Kathmandu to worship
Lord Shiva on his birthday. Lord Shiva is considered as the
guardian and protector of everything that exists. Colorful and
naked sadhus, the wandering sages who emulate Shiva with ashes over
their bodies, give lectures to disciples, meditate, or practice
yoga. Special attendance camps are set in the courtyards of the
temples situated at the opposite bank, where non-Hindus are also
free to wander. The curious can witness some rather interesting
yogic demonstrations there. Children collect donations from
passersby since the morning to buy necessary items to prepare holy
meal and bonfire during the evening. People make bonfire at
junctions and homes at the evening and warm themselves sitting by
the fire eating Prasad the holy meal.
February/March 2012
(7 March)
Fagu Poornima or Holi is one of the most colorful and playful
festivals of Nepal. It is the festival of water and colors which is
also known as "Phagu" in Nepal. According to Hindu Mythology,
during the reign of King Hiranyakashyap entire people of the
kingdom were prohibited from worshipping Lord Vishnu and were
forced to worship him instead. The king had immense hatred towards
God Vishnu. But for his misfortune, King's own son, Pralhad, was an
ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. When king learnt about this, he grew
very furious and implemented extreme cruel measures to make his son
forget Vishnu. No matter how cruel the king got his son grew more
closer to lord Vishnu. In one of his ploys, the King assigned his
sister, Holika, to burn Pralhad to death.
Holika had the power of emitting fi re. She took Pralhad into
her lap intending to burn him but with Lord Vishnu's immortal
blessings instead she was burnt to ashes. It is believed that from
this day people started to celebrate the death of Holika as Holi
festival.
The chir pole, decorated with colorful flags and erected on the
first day of Fagu at Kathmandu's Durbar Square. The last day is the
wildest as people especially the young ones wander through the
streets in groups on foot or vehicles covered with various colors
all over them and the people in houses make merry throwing colors
and water balloons at each other and also to these people on the
streets.
(31 March)
Hindus celebrate Dasain twice a year in Nepal. Chaite Dasain is
one of these. The most public of the ceremonies are the ritual
animal sacrifi ces performed by the army in the courtyard of the
police station at Hanuman Dhoka. This commence from 8:00 a.m. and
is performed before the banners and insignia of various military
units. Goats and buffaloes are the victims, beheaded by a single
stroke of the sword. In previous years anyone in the audience could
volunteer to dispatch one of the animals, but this custom has
lapsed. Western visitors are allowed to view from a balcony
overlooking the courtyard, with a splendid view of all the gore.
The rites last about two hours and are concluded after the military
commander smears each of the banners with the sacrificial
blood.
(31 March)
Hindus worship God Ram as a victorious person. In memory of the
victory day, all Hindus worship Ram at various temples, especially
in Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur.
(13 April)
Nepalese follow their own calendar system known as the Bikram
Era or Bikram Sambat. New Year is called Nawavarsha in Nepali
Language and is observed as an offi cial holiday. The day usually
falls in the second week of April. During this occassion people go
for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate the day socializing
in various ways. Musical programs are organized at different places
to mark the happy begining of the year.PLACES TO OBSERV
(13 April)
Bisket Jatra is celebrated in the historic city of Nepal,
Bhaktapur and the surrounding areas. During the festival people
replay a drama passed on over the centuries. God Bhairav and
goddess Bhadrakali are placed in large chariots (locally known as
Rathas) and pulled through crowds of cheering onlookers. When the
chariot reaches a sloping open square, there is a tug-of-war
between the inhabitants of living in the scattered local of city.
Winners are considered to be blessed with good fortune for the up
coming years. Other gods and goddesses, are also put on palanquins
and carried around so that they may witness the sights. Rituals of
sacrifi ce, fl owers, and coins are endowed to know them. Specially
the youths drag the chariots across brick-paved streets of the
town, with the celebration of rice beerfor fun wherever these
Rathas stop, lamps are lit and devotees overfl ow into the
surrounding alleys.
Bisket Jatra is also celbrated in Thimi at Bode village, there
is a tongue-piercing ceremony in which the dedicated may reserve a
place in heaven. The festival concludes with several days of
dancing and worshiping.
LACES TO OBSERVE
(21 April)
Mother's day is a day when one shows appreciation and gratitude
to mother for her unconditional love and support. It is a day of
reunion for married daughters with their mothers. Sons and
daughters presents and delicacies to offer to their mother. People
who do not have a living mother pay homage to Mata Tirtha located
six miles south - west of central Katmandu. It lies consisting of
two pools-the larger for bathing and the smaller is famous as the
place where one hopes to see mother's face. It is said that in the
ancient times the region was ruled by a cowherd king. One of his
cowherds was so depressed by his mother's death that he went to
pray and make offerings at a water storage pond in the forest on
this day. Miraculously his mother's face appeared and her hand
accepted the offerings. Since that time people go there hoping to
get a glance of their mother's face. People still believe that
paying homage to this site will bring peace to their mother's
departed soul.
(6 May)
Buddha Jayanti is the special occasion for both Hindus and
Buddhists and all those who believe in Buddism. People celebrate
this day as the day of the Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment and
death. Lord Buddha's birthplace-Lumbini Grove-is in the Terai
region of Nepal is crowded with the people of Nepal as well as
Buddhism follower's from around the world. In Kathmandu Buddhists
of all persuasions as well as pilgrims from abroad, honor the
Buddha at the two great stupas Swyambhunath, Boudhanath and the
largely Buddhist city of patan. Activity at the main Buddhist
stupas and shrines begins at dawn. Swayambhunath and Boudhanath,
Kathmandu are the busiest sites for the day Buddha Jayanti.
(May)
Until a few decades ago, before the Kathmandu Valley became a
purely commercial hub, it was an agricultural land, which depended
upon the rainy monsoon for its important rice crop. Today, though
traditional farming practices have reduced, the pre-monsoon season
still sees great worship made to Red Machhendranath-the rain god.
Patan's streets and palace complexes are made even more evocative
by wavering lamp and candle lights, women busily cooking feasts,
and men gathering strength to pull the chariot of their red deity.
As Lord Machhendranath views his followers from the high seat of
his chariot, its four wheels-representing the powerful
Bhairabreceive rice and vermilion powder, the king of serpents is
asked for blessing, and his jeweled vest is shown to the
public.
(27 May)
Ubhouli festival is celebrated by Kirat, Rai and Limbu ethnic
groups during the farming season which falls in the month of Apri
l/May. It is celebrated to worship the land and the nature with a
"Seuli" (which is a small tree branch full of leaves). The literal
definition of Ubhouli is the migration of animals and birds towards
higher cooler northern region. Festival shows the interrelation of
people and environment.
(May)
The Teechi (often pronounced "Teeji") festival is an annual
event indigenous to Lo-Manthang (Upper Mustang). The name is an
abbreviation of the word "Tempa Chirim" which translates as "Prayer
for World Peace". This festival commemorates the victory of Lord
Buddha's incarnation "Dorjee Sonnu" over a demon called Man Tam Ru
a vicious creature feeding on human beings and causing storms and
droughts. The Teechi festival usually takes place during the last
week of May and lasts for 3 days. Dances performed by the monks of
Lo Manthang's "choedhe" monastery during the celebration display.
The Teechi festival dances are all organized by the Choedhe
Monastery, which is that of the Sakya sect of Lo Manthang. The
monastery abbot is Khempo Tasi Tenzing Rimpoche. Altogether about
65 monks from Lo Manthang, Nhenyul and Chhosyer live in the
monastery.Day
(27th September 2011)
Nepal Tourism Board with all tourism related stakeholders
(government organizations, NGOs, INGOs etc.) celebrates World
Tourism Day each year on 27th September with arrays of programs
like street festivals, handicraft exhibitions and bicycle rallies.
Similarly all tourism related also associations also arrange their
own set of programs during the day. "Linking Cultures" is the
slogan for World Tourism Day 2011.
Major Tourism Festivals & Events
(2nd February 2012)
Nepal Tourism Board celebrates World Wetlands Day on
2nd February each year in cooperation with various
national and international organizations like Nepal River
Conservation Trust (NRCT) in association with Environmentalists'
Association of Nepal (EAN), National Trust for Nature Conservation
(NTNC), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
(ICIMOD), Sustainable Tourism Network (STN) and Department of
National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) of government of
Nepal etc. Awareness programs and workshops are organized on
conserving wetlands in the country.
Major Tourism Festivals & Even
www.welcomenepal.com
Date: 03/06/2012 08:24:07 :
: Yam Thapa