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Festival is always a meaningful event in
Nepal where the people find more joy in
participation than just watching. In Nepal
every festival has some purpose to serve;
such as to bring rain or to have good
harvest, to honor a mother or father, to
avert calamities or to nourish one’s soul
with something spiritual. In fact festivals
are the best way to understand and
appreciate the Nepalese way of life.
Navavarsha (April): The Nepalese New
Year’s Day usually falls in the second week
of April i.e. the first day of Baisakh. The
day is observed as a national holiday. The
people celebrate it with a great pomp and
show. On this occasion, Bisket Jatra is held
in the City of Bhaktapur.
Baisakh Poornima (Budda Jayanti) (April): As Nepal is
birthplace of Lord Buddha, the Light of
Asia, the triple anniversary of the Buddha’s
birth, enlightenment and death is observed
with many colorful ceremonies on this day.
People celebrate the occasion with great
veneration paying homage to Buddha at places
like Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath and Lumbini.
Red Machchhendranath Rath Jatra
(May-June): This festival is the biggest
socio-cultural event of Patan. The wheeled
chariot of a deity known as Bungdyo or Red
Machchhendranath is made at Pulchowk and
dragged through the city of Patan in several
stages till it reaches the appointed
destination Lagankhel. The grand finale of
the festival is called the “Bhoto Dekhaune”
or the “ showing of the vest”. A similar
kind of chariot festival White
Machchhendranath is also held in Kathmandu
City in the month of March-April.
Dumji (July): It is celebrated in all
the Sherpa settlements. The Sherpas of
Kathmandu and Helambu regions participate in
dancing on this day.
Mani Rimdu (Nov-Dec): It is a Sherpa
dance drama performed in the Khumbu Region.
It is held annually at Tengboche and Chiwong
monastries and at Thami Gomba. The
performers are monk and the occasion is
highlighted by much gaiety and feasting.
Gaijatra (July-Aug): Gaijatra,
popularly known as Cow festival, is a
carnival that lasts eight days. Dancing,
singing comedy and anything that causes
mirth and laughter are its highlights.
Krishnastami (July-Aug): It marks the
birthday of Lord Krishna. On this day,
impressive ceremonies are conducted at the
Krishna temple in Patan and at Changu
Narayan.
Indrajatra (Aug-Sep): The festival of
Indra, the god of rain, is observed with
great enthusiasm in Kathmandu valley. The
festival lasts for eight days. The chariot
of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out
in procession through the main streets of
Kathmandu. The festival is specially noted
for the echoes of drums and dancing feet of
the masked dancers.
Dashain / Durga Puja (Sep-Oct): The
Dashain festival is the most important
festival of the Neplease. The entire country
is in enthusiastic holiday mood at the time
of the festival.
Tihar (Oct-Nov): Known as the
“Festival of Lights”, Tihar is celebrated
for five days. Houses are illuminated at
night and special sweets of different
varieties are prepared.
Vibhaha Panchami (Nov-Dec): This is a
famous festival of Janakpur in the eastern
Terai. The occasion commemorates the
marriage of Sita to Ram, one of the most
venerated Hindu divinities. It attracts
thousands of pilgrims from India to Janakpur.
Lhosar (Feb): This festival is most
impressively observed in the month of
February by the Sherpas. They organize folk
songs and dances on this occasion. These
dances can be seen in Khumbu, Helambu and
other northern regions of Nepal and also at
Bouddhanath in Kathmandu.
Maha Shivaratri (Feb): Shivaratri or
the night of Lord Shiva is observed in
February- March. It is celebrated in honor
of Lord Shiva. A great religious fair takes
place in the Pasupatinath Temple and
thousands of people from all over Nepal and
India flock the Temple to worship Lord
Shiva.
Ghodejatra (March-April): Known as
the Festival Of Horses, it is one of the
most exciting festivals of Kathmandu. Horse
race and other sports take place at
Tundikhel on this day. It other parts of the
city, various deities are carried
shoulder-high on palanquin (khat) to the
accompaniment of traditional music.
Teej (Aug-Sep): Teej is a Hindu
festival celebrated by women. Dancing, folk
song and the red color of women’s wedding
saris dominate the days of Teej. Women
observe a fast flock to shiva temples where
married once pray for a happy conjugal life
and unmarried ones for a good husband. |
