Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Festivals of Nepal


festivals of nepal
NEPAL is not only the land of mountains, but also the land of festivals. People often say Nepal has more than the number of days in a year. Every Festivals are always a meaningful and memorable event in the life of Nepalese people. Every Festival has some principle to celebrate. From bringing in the rain to honoring the dead or averting calamities every festival has something spiritual aspect about it. Festival is a way of life in Nepal. With the number of Festivals that Nepal has, it is one of the best ways to understand and appreciate the Nepalese society. About more than 50 festivals are celebrated in Nepal every year. While the National Festivals have fixed dates. Religious Festivals follow the Lunar Calendar. The date of Festivals are according to Lunar Calendar. So the date of Festivals varies from year to year. For the Nepalese, Festivals are not merely the annual spectacles, but also are a living part of their rich cultural heritage. Festivals effectively bind together the Nepalese people of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs into one Nation. Most Nepalese festivals are related to different Hindu and Buddhist Gods and Goddesses and they are celebrated on such days consecrated for them by religion and tradition.

Others are observed in honor of personal relatives such as festivals of Matatirtha and Gaijatra. Yet others are held to herald the different seasons or to mark the beginning or end of agricultural cycle. Some festivals are of national significance such as Dashain or Tihar; some are confined to the Kathmandu Valley, while still others are celebrated only within one or two villages or cities.

Major Festivals of Nepal

Sweta (white) Machhendranath Snan in nepal Sweta (white) Machhendranath Snan: Festival is celebrated for about a week in the month of January. During this festival, the Machhendranath is bathed, oiled, perfumed and painted. The Goddess Kumari visits him at his elaborate temple near Asan Tol. If he is pleased by the music and offerings from his devotees, the people of the valley can look forward for the satisfactory rainfall during the season.



 Sweta (white) Machhendranath SnanSwasthani Brata Katha Festival: The Swasthani Brata Katha Festival is a month long festival  is held between the month of January and February, dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani. The month-long festival is devoted to holy bathing, religious fasting, and the study of the Swasthani books. Unmarried women fast during the festival to get a good husband, as married women fast for their families prosperity. The Goddess Swasthani is the ultimate gift grantor, but, if she is insulted, she can make life miserable. By worshiping Swasthani, Parvati attained Lord Shiva as her husband. During the worship or Puja, the Swasthani scripture is read every evening for a month. The worship of Goddess Swasthani brings parted relations together, limitless gifts and remove curses.

 Maghe Sankranti in nepalMaghe Sankranti: Maghe Sankranti is the festival of Sun-God, and is regarded  as the symbol of divinity and wisdom, the festival holds an eternal meaning. Festival is celebrated on the occasion of the sun entering the southern hemisphere. Generally Makar Sankranti falls on 14th January and is called Makar Sankranti or other names in the Indian subcontinent. Maghe Sankranti is also a major harvest festival celebrated in Madhes and Tharuhat of Nepal. Maghe Sankranti is regarded as marking the beginning of an auspicious phase in Nepalese Culture. On this day, the observant Hindus take an early morning ritual baths, notably at auspicious river locations. These include Sankhamul on the Magmati near Patan; in the Gandak/Narayani river basin at Triveni, Devghat near Chitwan Valley and Ridi on the Kaligandaki; and in the Koshi River at Dolalghat on the Sun Koshi, worship the Lord Vishnu and present flowers, incense and food to him. They read the Bhagavad Gita, the holy scripture, rub mustard oil over their bodies, and enjoy feasts of Rice cooked with Lentils, Yams or Taruls, Laddu, Sweets made of Sesame and a Sugarcane Paste.

basant panchami festival in nepalBasanta Panchami: Shree Panchami, Basant Panchami or Saraswati Pooja is one of the most important festival in Nepal. Basant Panchami is the day when winter ends and spring starts. Basanta or spring season is the loveliest time of the year. The Festival of Basant Panchami is celebrated in the month of January- February (Magh-Phagun) to welcome the spring season. Goddess Saraswati is regarded as the Goddess of knowledge. She is worshipped as the source of all intelligence and creativity. Her blessing are the source of innovation and knowledge. She is the creation of art, music, science and all education. It  start learning nree Panchami is the best day to start learning new things. Students worship books, pens, note books and other instruments. Musician worship his/ her instruments. Professionals worship their tools. This is the day when the source of knowledge, art and education are worshiped. On the Basanta Panchami or the fifth day of spring season, the people gather at Kathmandu's Durbar Square and His Majesty, the king and other dignitaries celebrate the season. The band plays the traditional song of spring. In Swayambhunath and the Nil Barahi temple, near Lazimpat, there is a different celebration. On this day, the people worship the goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning at the temple. Artists, musicians, teachers, and students bring flowers, unbroken rice, and other gifts to please her. Across Kathmandu Valley there are three main temples of Goddess Saraswati. They are Saraswati Temple in Lele, Saraswati Temple in Swyambhu, Nil Saraswati Temple in Gairidhara. Devoteese in Kathmandu Valley visit these temples from early morning to late in the evening during the Saraswati Day.

New Year's Day in NepalNew Year's Day: Nepalese follows their own calendar system known as the Bikram Era or Bikram Sambat. The Bikram Era is the official calendar of Nepal. This solar calendar was started by king Vikramaditya and starts from the first day of the first month of Baisakh. The new year 2057 of the Bikram Era corresponds to 2000-2001 of the Christian Era. The New Year's Day is an official holiday. The first day of the month of Baisakh is observed as the Nepali New Year and falls in the second week of April. It is also known as Navavarsha in Nepali language and is observed as an official holidays. On this day, the devotees visit the Pashupati temple to take a dip in the holy Bagmati river and visit other religious spots. The People go for picnics, have get-togethers and celebrate the day by socializing in various ways. It is a day to seek blessings from family priest and one's elders as well.

Ghode Jatra: Ghode Jatra, meaning Horse Parade is organised in Tundikhel Kathmandu every year. Ghode Jatra is organised on no-moon day of Chaitra Sukla Pakshya of eastern Lunar Calendar. This parade is organised and performed by Nepali Army and police together. This occasion falls about mid March or Early April of English callendar month. A big Horse Parade takes place at Tundikhel. Newars of Kathmandu celebrates Ghode Jatra for several days. On the Ghode Jatra Festival, the horses of the Nepalese army perform the graceful events before the public. According to the legends, this "horse festival" was celebrated after the people of Kathmandu  buried a demon under the soil of Tundikhel showground. They say that he may rise again and cause worry to the world if he is not trampled on by horses each year. So in the spring season, in the month of April, this victory over evil is celebrated in the valley by organizing palanquin processions and grand display of show jumping, motorcycling feats, and gymnastics. The King and Queen, the Living Goddess Kumari, and thousands of people from all over the country take part in the festival.

 Maha Shivaratri  in nepalMaha Shivaratri: During Maha Shivaratri Festival or the great night, the devotees throughout the Indian sub-continent visit the Pashupati temple and worship the Lord Shiva. The Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated in the month of February. The devotees gather here is such a large number that there is no space even for a sesame seed. The saints who emulate the Lord Shiva, rub ashes over their bodies, give lectures to disciples, meditate and practice yoga. The devotees worship the Lord Shiva till the midnight. On this day, the people lit bonfires, share food with neighbors and friends, and enjoy two days and a night of music, song, and dance throughout the Pashupati complex and in the streets.

 losar festival in nepalLosar: This is the New Year of the Tibetans and Sherpas of Nepal which falls in February. The Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu like Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are decorated with eye catching colorful prayer flags pulling the crowd. The people perform their traditional dances and welcome their New Year with feasts and family gatherings wearing all the new clothes and finest jewelries and exchanging gifts. The Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and prosperity, and perform dances at the monasteries. The colorful prayer flags are decorated at the streets and rooftops and they seem as brilliant at the Buddha and Swayambhu stupas. In the Buddha stupas, the people celebrate the New Year by throwing tsampa (roasted barley flour) into the air.

 phagu purnima festival in nepalFagu Purnima: Holi or Fagu Purnima is one of the most colorful and playful festivals of Nepal. The Holi Festival is celebrated in the month of March. The chit pole are decorated with colorful flags and erected on the first day of Fagu at Kathmandu's Durbar Square. On this day, a formal announcement is made to all the people to hide their good clothes or you would be splashed with coloured powder and water balloons. On the last day, the youths cover their body with red vermilion powder and roam the streets.

Image result for Buddha Jayanti in nepalBuddha Jayanti: The Buddha Jayanti is observed as the birth of Lord Buddha on the full moon day in the month of May. The Lord Buddha was born in Nepal, and he preached Buddhism, which is the second most popular religion in Nepal. On this day, the people celebrate the Lord's birth, enlightenment, and salvation throughout the valley with celebrations. Before the coming of the festival, the Swayambhunath and Boudhanath Stupas are prepared for the festival several days in advance. The people clean the monasteries, polish the statues and monks prepare for the dance. On the Buddha Jayanti, people reach the stupas before dawn, go around them and give offerings to the various Buddha images.
 
Dipankar lagan wk.jpgGunla Festival: The Gunla festival is celebrated by the Buddhists of the Kathmandu valley in the month of August. This festival is celebrated to welcome the monsoon season. The celebrations of this festival was started about twenty-five centuries ago by the Buddha. It is a time for prayer, fasting, meditation and religious music. The devotees climb past jungles, stone animals, great statues of the Buddha, and begging monkeys to Swayambhu hilltop where daily prayers begin before dawn. Important Buddhist statues, oil lamps, prayer flags and scroll paintings are displayed in the monasteries, and the teachings of Lord Buddha are remembered as the rains nurture the crop of rice, Nepal's most important crop.

 Krishnashtami Festival in nepal Krishnashtami Festival: The festival of Krishnashtami is celebrated in the month of August. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. On this day, an impressive ceremony takes place at the Krishna Temple in Patan and Changu Narayan temple.The Krishna Temple is one of the most important temples in the square which is said to have the most diverse collection of traditional architectural styles found within a square anywhere in the world. This square once served as the seat of the former royal family of Patan and has been designated a world heritage monument zone by UNESCO. Made in the shikhara style of India with red stone, the Krishna Temple was built in 1637 by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla following a dream he had in which he saw Lord Krishna and his lover Radha standing in front of his palace. The very next day, he ordered a temple to built at the very same site. It is three-storied and has 21 golden pinnacles on top. Icons of the gods Krishna, Shiva, and Lokeshwor grace each of the three floors.

 janai purnima festival in nepal Janai Purnima: The Janai Purnima or Raksha Bandhan festival is observed in the month of Shrawan English Month of August. It is called Raksha Bandhan as this festival observes the bond of purity and security. This festival is celebrated by Hindu all over the world. Janai Purnima is Sacred Thread Festival. On this day, Hindu men, especially the Brahmins and Chhetris perform their annual change of Janai and all who celebrates this festival put a sacred thread around their waist. Janai is a cotton string worn across the chest by Hindu male. This thread is only given to males during a long and impressive religious ceremony called Bratabandha. Bratabandha is basically a formal and when the knots are tied the person wearing it is supposed to gain complete control over each of them. This cord id changed if it becomes untidy or dishonored due to those acts which are forbidden by religion. However, Janai must be changed without fail on Raksha Bandhan Day. Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters; the festival is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister like loving (nonsexual) protective relationship between men and women who are relatives or biologically unrelated

Gai Jatra festival in Nepal
Gai Jatra Festival: The gai or cow is holy to Hindus. She represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and guides the departed souls to the gates of the another world. The Gai Jatra or Cow Festival is celebrated in the month of August. Satire, jokes, fancy costumes, and colorful processions are the part of the festival as the people recall how an eighteenth century king rallied his people to cheer his queen upon the death of their son. Those who have experienced the death of close ones during the past year share their sorrow and comfort so that the gai can safely transport the departed souls on their afterlife journey. The young men wear the women's saris, children dressed up as cows, and whimsical characters of all sorts fill the streets. The special issues of local magazines shower its fun on everyone and everything.

teej festival in nepalTeej Festival: The festival of Teej is celebrated in the month of August. On this day, the women dressed up in their fine red wedding saris visit the Pashupatinath temple of Shiva. The women celebrate the festival by fasting, folk songs, and dances and recall the goddess Parvati's devotion to her husband Shiva. The married women visit their fathers homes and all daughters and sisters receive gifts from their male kin, and an elaborate feast is prepared for them. It is a loud and cheerful celebration until late night, when strict fasting discontinues. On this day women observe a fast and pray to Lord Shiva for the long, healthy and prosperous life of their husbands and their families. The unmarried women also observe this festival with the hope that they will get to marry good husbands. The blessings of Shiva and Parbati ensure that family life will be joyous for all.

Indra Jatra festivals in Nepal
Indra Jatra: The festival of Indra Jatra is named after the Lord Indra, King of Heaven. This festival is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in the month of September in Nepal. On this day, the people worship the Lord Indra, to be grateful to him, who has blessed the valley. This festival is celebrated for eight days in the Durbar Square in Kathmandu with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. On the first day, the Indra's dhwaj or flag is erected. It is said that many centuries ago, Indra's mother needed specially scented flowers but could not find them in heaven's gardens. Indra discovered parijat flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his mother. He was caught and imprisoned by the people of the valley. When Indra's mother came searching for him the people were punished for what they had done. As a result, they released Indra and dedicated one of the most colorful festivals of Nepal to him to appease his anger. On this day, the masks and statues representing Vishnu, Bhairab, and Shiva are shown to the public, and the Goddess Kumari witnesses the special occasion from her chariot. The chariot of the Living Goddess Kumari is taken through the main streets of Kathmandu. On the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to Goddess Kumari. The people gather at the streets of Kathmandu valley to enjoy the festival.

Image result for Dashain -Bijoya Dashami in nepalDashain -Bijaya Dashami: Dashain is the longest and most favourite festival of Nepal. This festival is celebrated in the month of October in Nepal. On this day, everyone stays at the home with their families, offices are closed. The skies are filled with kites and the marketplaces are filled with farmers bringing their buffaloes, goats and chicken to sell. These animals are then sacrificed on the night of Kal Ratri to please the goddess Durga. On the day of Dashami, everyone puts on new clothes and goes to honour their family elders, where they receive large red tikas of vermilion paste on their foreheads. In the following days of Dashain, families and friends unite, take part in the feasts, impart the blessings and exchange the gifts.

Image result for tihar festival nepal 2017Tihar Festival: Tihar also known as Deepawali and Yamapanchak, is a five day long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal. It is the festival of light, as Diyas ( oil lamp used in India and Nepal, usually made from clay, with a cotton wick dipped in ghee or vegetable oils) are lit inside and outside the houses to make it illuminate at night. It is popularly known as Swanti among the Newars and Deepawali among Madhesis. Tihar is the second biggest Nepalese festival after Dashain. It is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the gods, but also to the animals like crows, cows and dogs that maintain an intimate relationship with humans. People make patterns on the floor of living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals outside of their house, called Rangoli, which is meant to be a sacred welcoming area for the gods and Goddesses of Hinduism mainly Goddess Laxmi. The Festival of Lights is celebrated in the month of November. This festival is a time of candlelight, tinsel decorations and festive colored sweets. This festival is celebrated for five days and on different days, there are offerings and small celebrations for crows, dogs, cows and oxen. On the night of Lakshmi Puja, garlands are hung and lamps are lighted to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth into the home. Maha Puja, the New Year's Day according to the Nepal Era is celebrated as the day of the self, when people give themselves blessings to remain healthy and happy for the rest of the year. On Bhai Tika, the last day, the sisters make offerings to their brothers and the rituals include breaking of walnut, putting on garlands of Makhamali flowers and encircling brothers in rings of mustard oil to protect them from Yama, lord of the Netherworld.
 Source: Nepal Tourism