It is said about Nepal that
every other structure is a holy shrine every other day of festival. Well if the
number of annual festival. Both religious and national, is any indication, the
saying couldn't be more true Festival is an essential part of Nepalese life
that garner emend us local participant. Festival also offers visitors valuable
opportunity not only for having fun but gaining insight into various aspects of
Nepalese culture.
The religious festivals follow the lunar calendar.
While national festivals have fixed dates. Wherever or whenever you arrive in
Nepal, you can be pretty sure of being at the right time for one for one more
special events. Some of the major and interesting festivals are presented below.
(Naya Varsha B.S. 01-01- 2072) Nepali New Year
(14 April 2015):
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.
Mata Tirtha Aunshi 05 -01- 2072 Mother's Day (18 Apr 2015)
Mata Tirtha Aunshi falls in the month of Baishak (April). This festival falls in the time of dark moon's time; so its called Mata Tirtha Aunshi. Mata means mother and Tirtha means pilgrimage, so in this way it's called Mata Tirtha Aunshi. This festival is observed in the commemoration and respect of the mother. So its mother's reading day as well. All Devotees worship their living mother at their home itself and the person whose mother have been passed away, they go to the Mata Tirtha place which is in Kathmandu. A very grand spectacular religions fair takes place at Mata Tirth pilgrimage one this day. Thousands of devotees flock there to worship and to take a holy bath in the pious Mata Tirtha pond in the high reverence of their deceased mothers. After the holy bath and worship they donate some subsidiary items with money to the barman priests staying.
Baisakh Poornima 21 -01-2072 B.S. (04 May 2015) Lord Buddha's Birth Anniversary):
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 colorful ceremonies on this day. People celebrate
the occasion with great veneration paying homage to Buddha at places kike
Swayambhunath, Bouddhanath and Lumbini.
Red Machchhendranath Rath Jatra (May-June 2015):
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 a
vest". A similar kind of chariot festival to Machchhendranath (white) is
also held in Kathmandu city in the month of May-Jun.
Nag Pachmi:
Hindu Nag Panchami festival on 31 August 2014 (15
Shawan 2071. All hindu devotees, picture of Nag is put on the main door of the
home. The snake god and offer milk and prayed on this day.
Janai Purnima 29 August 2015 (12 Bhadra 2072)
Janai Purnima is one of the very magnanimous
festival of Nepal. This festival falls in the 13 August 2011 (28 Shawan 2068).
The Bramans and Chretry community ties in the Nepal change their sacred thread
janai on this day from their guru after taking a holy bath or deep in the
river. Janai is tied long from around their left neck to the next right armpit
's below. They tie the dhago around their right wrist also from the guru.
Gaijatra (Cow festival): 30 August 2015 (13
Bhadra 2072)
According to the lunar calendar, this festival
is second day of Janai Purnima. This festival is grandly in Kathmandu, Bhatapur
and Patan cities. The people decorate the cow and small children like joking
cartoon and walk through out the city in small group. It is believed that if
this festival is celebrated in this way with the help to cow, the deceased
persons' soul who has died during the year, will get chance soon to rest in the
haven soon and he will bless us lot of good luck from there. Cow is our
respected like our own progenitor mother in the Hindu Religion. After our death
there are many horrible places to cross us to reach in the Haven.
Krishana Astami: 5 September 2015 (19 Bhadra
2072):
Krishna Astami is eight days of Bhadra dark
fortnight in August. A great ceremony takes place in every Load Krisana astami
Kushe Aushi: 13 Septemember 2015 (27 Bhadra
2072)
Hindu's celebrating this festival on the end of
August . The Hindu Mythology says that there are four things in which Lord
Bishnu stays and those are the Saligram stone, Tulsi plant tree, Pipal Tree and
the Kush grass. Kushe Aushi day the priest gives everyone the kush grass so as
the lord Bishnu stays in all the houses.
Nepalese tradition and culture holds a lot of
respect for a father. He is considered the pillar of strength, high opinion and
support of a family. The most auspicious day to honor one's father is Gokarna
Aunsi . It falls on the dark fortnight in August.
Haritalika Teej: 16 September 2015 (30 Bhadra
2072)
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 and flock to Shiva temples where married ones
pray for a happy conjugal life and unmarried ones for a good husband.
Vijaya Dashain:
Ghatasthapana 13 October 2015( 26 Ashoja 2072),
Fulpati 20 October 2015
(03 Kartik 2072),
Astami 21 October 2015
(04 Kartik 2072,
Nawami 22 October 2015
(05 Kartik 2072)
Bijaya Dashami 23
October 2015 (06 Kartik 2072
Purnima -full moon 26
October 2015 (09 Kartik 2072)
The Dashain festival is the most important
festival of the Nepalese. The entire country is in enthusiastic holiday mood at
the time of the festival.
Tihar (Deepawali):
11 November 2015 (25 Kartik 2072) is Laxmi Puja,
12 November 2015 (26 Kartik 2072) Goru puja
13 November 2015 (27 Kartik 2072) Vaitika
Bhai Tika 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.
Bala Chaturdashi: 21 November 2014 ( 05 Mungsir
2071)
Balachaturdashi is also one of the pious festivals
of the Hindus. It falls on the 14thday of dark fortnight of Mungsir
November). The special importance of this
festival is to offer obeisance in the commemoration of our deceased ancestors
(antecedents). Antecedents are believed to be equal as the God in the Hindu
mythology. Mythology explains that; though the God wishes to present us some
thing; the antecedents can stop us from obtaining the things. So without
appeasing to the antecedents we can't get any fruitful awards. So that, this is
the day of the Balachaturdashi to respect our antecedents. It's believed that
if we scatter the Sadbij on this day in the name of our ancestors their soul
will rest nicely in eternal peace in the heaven; then we will be blessed a lot
from them to get the happy life. Also it's believed that if we scatter the
Sadbij particles on this day; we will get the virtue of donating as equal to
the donation of gold particles.
Bibaha Panchami: 10 December 2015 (24 Mungsir
2072)
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 Janaki Temple in Janakpur.
Prithvi Jayanti: January 11, 2015 (Poush 27 2071)
This occasion is celebrated in honor of King
Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern Nepal, with a colorful ceremony in
front of the Singha Durbar gate in Kathmandu .
Basanta Panchami: 24 Janurary 2015 (10 Magh 2071)
Basanta Panchami is also one of the very important
festivals. It falls in the bright fort night of Magh (January).In this festival
Saraswati mother the Goddess of knowledge is worshipped grandly by all
specially by the students, teachers and scholars. She is the mother of
education and she is believed to be the Guru (teacher) of all kinds of
education; and without her worship we can't get good knowledge. A huge
assemblage of devotees takes place in every Saraswati temple of the country to
worship the Goddess. This occasion is called the Shree Pnchami as well.
Guardians take their small children in the temple and they are given some
writing chalks in their hands to start the education by writing on the wall of
the temple. Devotees believe that if the children are taken to start their
education from the Saraswati temple on this day, they will become a very
efficient and educated person of the country in the future.
A grand Saraswati Puja is organized in every
school on this day and if there's no temple in that school the students are
taken to take audience of the Goddess some where at out side's Saraswati
temple. After the puja the prasads are distributed there in the school. So this
day reminds the students about true value of the education. Sraraswati mother's
picture remains fixed to worship on the wall of every school's office in Nepal;
since she is the Goddess of knowledge; and without her honour the good
education can't be achieved.
Losar : 21 February 2015 (07 Magh 2071:
The Sherpas most impressively observe this
festival in the month of January - February. They organize folk songs and
dances on this occasion. These dances can be seen in Kathmandu, Helambu and
other northern regions of Nepal and also at Bouddhanath in Kathmandu.
Maha Shivaratri: 17 Feruary 2015 (06 Falgun 2071)
Shivaratri or the Night of Lord Shiva is observed.
It is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. A great religious fair tales place in
the Pashupatinath Temple and thousands of people from all over Nepal and India
flock the temple to worship Lord Shiva.
National Democracy Day:
This day is officially observed as Rastriya
Prajatantra Divas or National Democracy Day as a mark of respect to the
people's Revolution of 1950-51. It generally falls on February 20, 2014 (i.e.
Phalgun 7, 2071)
Falgu Purnima (Color festival) 05 March 2015 (
22 Falgun 2071)
In an ancient time there was a demon King named
Hiranya Kashyapu who a very cruel atheist demon. Once when he did a very hard
penance, then Lord Bhrama became very happy and offered him an invincible
blessing; means couldn't be killing by either any man or animal; and either in
the day or in the night; or either on the sea or on the ground. This was the
hard boons, which he had asked with Brahma; and Brahma had offered him this
blessing. Since getting this blessing the demon became very proud; because he
thought that no on this earth now can kill him. That's why he was overwhelmed
by his proud. Now he thought that there's no any one powerful person than him
in this world. So he was bullying and frightening to all.
In the contrary he had a son named Pralahad who
was a great theist and used to worship always to lord Vishnu. He used to think
that all the people including him and his father are nothing in front of God
Vishnu; he used to believe. If God wishes he could do any thing to any one; and
he can give any thing to any one. When Pralhad used to recite the name of lord
Vishnu; his father the demon King Hiranya Kashyapu used to get very much
enraged always. He ordered his son Pralahad not to spell Vishnu's name since he
is no thing; and he ordered to take his father's name in it's instead. But
Pralahad never did so; that's why the demon Hiranya Kashyapu was seen very much
infuriated. So he decided to kill his son making many wicked ploys.
Ghodejatra: 20
march 2015 (06 Chaitra 2071)
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. In other parts of the city, various deities are carried
shoulder-high on palanquin (khat) to the accompaniment of traditional music.
