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Major Festivals Of Nepal |
Nepal has more festivals than
the number of days in a year. A festival is
always a meaningful and memorable event in the
life of Nepalese people. Every festival has some
purpose to serve. From bringing in the rain to
honoring the dead or averting calamities, every
festival has something spiritual 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 ways of life. The dates of Nepali
festivals are according to the lunar calendar.
Hence the date of festivals varies from year to
year.
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Some Of The Major Festivals
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April
New Year's Day : (First day of Baisakh)
Matatirtha Aaunsi : (Mother’s Day)
Buddha Jayanti : Celebrating the birth of Lord
Buddha
May
Rato Machhendranath Rath Jatra : The festival
of Lokeswar, one of the patron Gods of
Kathmandu. A 40-foot tall chariot with the God's
image installed is pushed and pulled through the
streets by hundreds of worshippers.
Kumar Sasthi : A celebration of the birth of
the Hindu warrior God Kumar marks the beginning
of the rice planting season. It's also
celebrated by groups of boys who indulge in
stone throwing fights.
June
No major festivals in the monsoon season.
July
Ghanta Kharna : A festival commemorating an
ancient victory over a particularly malevolent
devil, Gathemuga. Mock funerals are held and
figures burned in effigy.
August
Guru Poornima : Teacher's Day
Naga Panchami : A festival devoted to the snake
gods, who most Nepalese believe ruled the Valley
before the coming of people.
Janai Purnia : The festival of changing of the
sacred thread which every Brahmin caste Hindu
male wears around his torso.
September
Gaijatra(Cow Festival) : A festival to the
sacred cow. Among other symbolisms of the cow,
cows are believed to lead the souls of the dead
to the underworld; and on Gaijatra Newar
households process around an ancient path
believed to mark the city walls of times past,
in honor of recently deceased members of their
families. It's also a carnival celebration with
practical jokes - something like Mardi Gras
combined with April Fool's day.
Krishna Asthami : Celebrating the birth of the
Hindu God Krishna, one of the incarnations of
Lord Vishnu.
Gokarna Aunsi : Father's Day
Indra Jatra : This festival officially begins
with the raising of a 50-feet tall ceremonial
pole at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square in
Kathmandu. A weeklong traditional display of old
images of Akash Bhairavs is one of the
highlights of this festival. The ceremonial
pulling of the rath (chariot) of the Kumari, the
chariots of Ganesh and Bhairav accompany the
Virgin or Living Goddess
October
Bada Dashain : The biggest and most widely
celebrated national festival in Nepal, usually
falls in early October. It begins with
Ghatsthapana. Of the two full weeks of
celebrations, the 8th, 9th and 10th are the most
eventful and auspicious days. The main deity
worshipped during Dashain is Goddess Durga. On
the 9th day, thousands of devotees visit
important Durga temples to worship her. The
tenth day is climax day. People visit to seniors
for Tika (blessings). The ministers,
high-ranking officials, general public queue to
get Tika from their Majesty in Royal Palace.
November
Tihar : It is also known as Diwali or Deepavali,
is the festival of lights in Nepal. The
celebrations continue for five days. It is an
annual festival celebrated in the bright blue
days of autumn. The festival begins with the
worship of crows, followed by the worship of
dogs on the 2nd day. On the 3rd day, Laxmi, the
goddess of wealth, is worshipped. On the 5th
day, one's own soul is worshipped. Sisters also
worship their brothers on this day. This is
called Bhai Tika, and is a great day and the
grand finale to Tihar.
Constitution Day : The new democratic
constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal was
promulgated on November 9, 1990. since then,
this day is observed as the Constitution day.
Dhanya Purnima : A full moon festival
celebrating the end of the rice harvest.
Mani Rimdu : It is one of the most fascinating
High Himalayan Buddhist festivals observed every
year, usually in November. Tengboche, the
world's highest monastery located in Solu Khumbu
district of Nepal, is the focal point for the
celebration of this festival. The main
attraction of this festival is the various
masked dances of religious significance.
December
Seto Machhendranath : A cleansing ritual for
the White (seto) Machhendranath, a counterpart
god to the Red (rato) Machhendranath who's
chariot procession is in April-May.
Birthday of previous King Birendra Bir Bikram
Sha Dev :- The suspicious birthday of His
Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Deve falls
on December 28/29 ( Push 14th). This occasion is
celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the
kingdom.
January
Prithivi Jayanti : This festival is celebrated
in honor of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the
founder of Modern Nepal, with a colorful
ceremony in front of the Singh Durbar Gate in
Kathmandu on
February
Losar : It is one of the greatest festivals of
significant importance to the Sherpas and
peoples of Tibetan origin. It is celebrated
every year in February. The focus of this
festival centers around the celebration of the
Tibetan New Year. Many fascinating rituals and
celebrations may be observed in Boudha and in
Tibetan settlements such as the Tibetan Refugee
Camp at Jawlakhel, Patan.
National Democracy Day : This day is officially
observed as Rastriya Prajatantra Divas or
National Democracy Day ( it generally falls on
February 18th i.e. 7th of Phalgun as a mark of
respect ot people’s revolution of 1950 – 51.
March
Shiva Ratri : Shivaratri or the night of Lord
Shiva, is observed in March. It is celebrated in
honour of Lord Shiva. A great religious fair
takes places in the Pashupatinath Tmple and
thousands of people from all over Nepal and
India visit the temple.
April
Ghodejatra : Known as the festival of horses,
it is one of the most exciting festivals of the
Kathmandu city. Horse race and other sports take
place at Tundikhel on this day. |
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