Festivals of Nepal
A 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 honour 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. We say that in Nepal there are more festivals than days in the calendar.
Navavarsha (April):
The Nepalese New Year's Day is known as Navavarsha. Nepal has its official calendar that begins from the first day of the first month Baisakh which usually falls in the second week of April. The day is observed as a national holiday.
Baisakh Poornima (April):
As Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the Light of Asia, the triple anniversary of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death is observed with many colourful 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. The grand finale of the festival is called the "Bhoto Dekhaune".
Dumje Festival (May-June):
Dumje Festival is celebrated in all the Sherpa settlements. It celebrates and honours the anniversary of Guru Rinpoche's birth on the lotus flower. There is much dancing, drinking and merry making in addition to the more serious rituals and dances performed by the monks.
Gai Jatra (July-August):
Gai Jatra, popularly known as Cow Festival, is a carnival that lasts eight days. As per the tradition, the family who has lost a relative during the past one year must take part in a procession by sending young boys in cow like attire and walk through the streets of Kathmandu lead by a cow.
Krishnastami (July-August):
It marks the birthday of Lord Krishna. All the devotees assemble in Krishna Mandir, the Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square and other temples with the idol of Krishna and offer prayers, flowers, food, sweets and chant hymns too.
Teej Festival (August-September):
Teej is a Hindu festival celebrated by women. Dancing, folk songs and the red colour of women's wedding saris dominate the day of Teej. Women pay homage to Shiva temples where the married ones pray for a happy conjugal life and the unmarried ones for a good husband.
Indra Jatra (August-September):
The festival of Indra, the God of Rain, is observed with great enthusiasm in Nepal. The festival lasts for eight days. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. The festival is specially noted for the echoes of drums and dancing feet of the masked dancers.
Dashain Festival(September-October):
Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and through all the country. The Goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices.
Tihar Festival (October-November):
Known as the "Festival of Lights", Tihar is celebrated for five days and people worship Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth. All the houses are cleaned and decorated with the belief that Goddess Laxmi will enter the house that is the cleanest and people lit candles and oil lamps. During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are worshipped and honoured with vermilion, garland and delicious food.
Mani Rimdu Festival (February):
It is a Sherpa dance drama performed in some monasteries in the Khumbu Region. The performers are monks and the occasion is highlighted by much gaiety and feasting. During the Mani Rimdu Festival we can observe the Lamas invoking the God of Compassion which assures the village a long life, peace and good fortune.
Lhosar (February):
Lhosar marks the New Year"s Day of the Lunar Calendar, it is often called the "Tibetan New Year". Lhosar is celebrated for 15 days with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day, a beverage called changkol is made from chhaang (the Tibetan beer). The second day is known as "King's Lhosar". On the third day, people and monks begin to celebrate and enjoy the festive season.
Maha Shivaratri (February):
Shivaratri or the night of Shiva is celebrated in honour of Lord Shiva. A great religious fair takes place in the Temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and thousands of people from all over Nepal and India reach the temple to worship the God. On this day, marijuana is allowed.
Holi Festival (February-March):
Holi Festival is also called the "Festival of Colours". This day is observed to rejoice the extermination of female demon Holika who planned to kill Pralhad, an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. This day, people wander through the streets in groups on foot or vehicles with various colours smeared all over them and the people in houses make merry throwing colours and water balloons at each other and also to these people on the streets.
Ghode Jatra (March-April):
Known as the "Festival of Horses", it is one of the most exciting festivals of Kathmandu. A grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel. Although this festival does not have much of religious aspects, a large number of people, even from outside Kathmandu flock around the capital to witness the horse race and other exciting sports activities performed by the army.
