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Festivals
in Nepal:
Nepal is not only the land of mountains;
it is also the land of festivals. There are more than
50 festivals celebrated in Nepal every year. While the
national festivals have fixed dates, religious festivals
are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar.
The best part about the festivals in Nepal is that all
the events are celebrated with the same enthusiasm and
galore the way it used to be hundreds of years ago when
people had no other means of entertainment.
New Year:
It is known as “Navavarsha” in Nepal. Nepal
has its official calendar that begins from the first
day of the first month Baisakh. This very first day
is observed as Nepali New Year which usually falls in
the second week of April. People go for picnics, have
get-togethers and celebrate the day socializing in various
ways as this day is also a national holiday.
Lhosar (Tibetan New Year):
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.
Shivaratri (Maha Shivaratri):
Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva that falls sometime
between February/March is one of the major festivals
of Nepal. This day is dedicated to the Lord of the Lords
– Lord Shiva or Mahadev who lived in Mt. Kailash
in the Himalayas. Lord Shiva is the most worshipped
God in the Hindu religion. More than 100,000 of Hindu
devotees from India and Southeast Asia throng weeks
ahead of the festival and gather in and around Pashupatinath
temple – one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus
in Kathmandu to pay their homage to Lord Shiva on his
birthday. “Pashupatinath” literally means
“the Lord of animals” as Lord Shiva is considered
as the guardian and protector of everything that exists
in the Himalayan Kingdom.
Holi:
This festival of water and colors that falls between
February/March is also known as “Phagu”
in Nepal. This day is observed to rejoice the extermination
of female demon Holika who together with her King brother
conspired to kill his son Pralhad, an ardent devotee
of Lord Vishnu. This day, playful people especially
the young ones wander through the streets in groups
on foot or vehicles with various colors smeared 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.
Ghode Jatra (Festival of Horses):
This festival takes place
between March/April and 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 Kathmandu to witness
the horse race and other exciting sports activities
performed by the Army in the presence of the King and
the Royal family.
Buddha Jayanti:
Buddha’s birth anniversary
is celebrated every year during May in Nepal. On this
day people swarm in Swayambhunath and Boudhanath to
pay homage to Lord Buddha and also visit Buddha’s
birth place in Lumbini and chant prayers and burn butter
lamps. Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautam
but he abandoned his luxurious life when he realized
the misery of mankind and went in search of enlightenment.
Indra Jatra:
This festival named after
Lord Indra- the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven
is celebrated by both the Buddhists and Hindus in Nepal
in August/September. This festival lasts for eight days
with singing, mask dancing and rejoicing. The chariot
of Kumari – the Living Goddess is taken through
the main streets of Kathmandu with much fanfare. On
the first day, the King of Nepal also pays homage to
Goddess Kumari. The crowd of excited people from performers
to spectators engulfs the streets of Kathmandu during
this festival. People get to enjoy various classical
dances like elephant dance, lakhe – a very popular
dance of a man with a mask.
Dashain (Bijaya Dashami):
During the month of Kartik
(late September and early October), the Nepalese people
indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain.
Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival
in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese
of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen
days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight
ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the
kingdom of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations
are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings
and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy
bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.
Tihar:
This festival of lights that
falls between October/November is the second biggest
festival after Dashain. This festival lasts 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, oil lamps and
other lights and the whole place looks illuminating.
During the five days, crows, dogs and cows are worshipped
and honored with vermilion, garland and delicious food
for what they have done in the lives of humans.
Crows are regarded as the messenger that brought news
even during the times when there were no postmen and
no postal services. Dogs are the most obedient animals
and they guard our house as true guardians. Cow is also
a symbol of wealth in Hinduism and she is also the national
animal of Nepal. During Tihar, the Newari community
in Nepal also observes Mha puja – a ritual of
worshipping one’s own body and life. On this very
day, the Newari New Year which is also known as Nepal
Sambat begins.
The festival ends with Bhai Tika – brothers’
day when his sisters worship him for his long and healthy
life to safeguard the lives of his sisters. This is
also a gambling time in Nepal as gambling is not illegal
during this festival. |
