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7. Festivals & Events
1. Seto Machhendranath Jatra
On this day a popular festival held in honour of the white Machhendranath,
who is actually the Padmapani Lokeswara, whose permanent shrine
is situated at Matsyendra Bahal in Kel Tole in the middle of the
bazaar in Kathmandu. A huge chariot of wood supported on four large
wheels and carrying tall spire covered with green foliage is made
ready for receiving the image of the divinity on this occasion and
for dragging in the old town. There is such a spontaneous and heavy
turnout of the devotees to pay homage to this God, who is also said
to be “ Embodiment of Compassion” at this time
2. Maghe Sankranti
A Sankranti signifies the first day of any month in the nepali calendar
year. Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh,
usually the mid of January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month
of Poush (mid-December) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden.
Even if it is considered the coldest day of the year, it marks the
coming of warmer weather and better days of health and fortune.
This day is said to be the most significant day for holy bathing
despite the weather. This ritual usually takes place at the union
of sacred rivers and streams. Sankhamole, on the banks of the holy
Bagmati river, below Patan, is thought to be amongst the most sacred
sites for this purpose, though there has been a decline in the fulfillment
of this ritual in the recent years due to water pollution in the
river. But people still go in the wee hours of dawn just to sprinkle
themselves with the water. They pay homage to various deities specially
the temple of Red Machindranath and Agima Ta.
In addition to holy bathing and worship of shrines, certain auspicious
foods like till laddoos (sesame seeds ball cakes), chaku (molasys),
ghee (clarified butter), sweet potatoes, khichari (mixture of rice
and lentils) and green leaf spinach are taken on this day. Families
come together and share these delights. Married daughters and families
are invited to parental homes for festivities and blessings. Yet
another occasion to renew family ties. Many homes have pujas (religious
ceremonies) conducted by priests with chanting from holy books,
for which they receive alms.
Like any other holy celebration Maghi Sankranti also has a legend
of its own. It recalls that once a merchant from the town of Bhadgoan
despite of his thriving business noticed that his supply of
sesame
seeds hadn't diminished. When looking into the matter he found an
idol of the Lord Vishnu hidden deep beneath the seeds. Since, then
on this day the Til Madhav idol is worshipped with the belief that
god will continue to be generous in the supply of food and wealth
on the Bhadgoan community. It's also the day commemorating the death
of Viswapitamaha, the elderly grandfather of two families of Pandavas
and Kauravas, between whom the famous battle of Mahabharat took
place. He was determined not to die until the way to the region
of gods opened. While lying on the bed of arrows he discovered words
of wisdom on life and death. Eventually, through his free will he
succumbed to death. Hence it's believed that those who die on this
day go to heaven, released from the burden of rebirth.
Maghi Sankranti, is yet another occasion which renews the faith
of Nepalese people in the heavenly powers.
3. Basant Panchami & Saraswati Puja
The Basanta Panchami and Saraswati Puja festivals are held in January.
Basanta (or Spring) heralds one of the loviest seasons in Nepal.
Crowds gather in Kathmandu's Durbar Square as a band plays the song
of spring and dignitaries welcome the new season.
As Swayambhu and at the Nil Barahi Shrine near Lazimpat in Kathmandu,
a different celebration is held in which Saraswati, the Goddess
of Learning, is worshipped at her temples. Artists, musicians, teachers
and students bring offerings to her.
4. Swasthani
The Swasthani Festival takes place between January and February.
The Goddess Swarsthani's three eyes burn like the sun. She is the
ultimate giver of gifts although if insulted, she can make life
miserable.
By worshipping Swasthani, Parbati attained Lord Shiva as her husband.
In the worship rites of Swasthani (as set out by Parbati) the Swasthani
Scripture is read every evening for one month.
Worshipping Swasthani is believed to remove curses, unite parted
relatives and could result in limitless gifts.
5. Maha Shivaratri (Feb)
This is the most famous and celebrated festival of Nepal which attracts
large crowds from far flung places both in India & Nepal. The festival
is consecrated in honor of Shiva. It is observed by bathing and
holding of a religious fast. All Shiva shrines become the places
of visit for “Darshan”, but the greatest attraction of all is held
by the temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu.
One gets to see thousands of Hindus devotees coming to visit the
temple of Pashupati. Among them are a large number of Sadhus and
Naked ascetics. Many people like to keep awake for the whole nights
keeping vigilance over an oil lamp burnt to please Shiva. Children
are seen keeping awake similarly over a bonfire in many localities.
In the afternoon an official function is held to celebrate this
festival at Tundikhel. The Royal Nepal Army organizes a show in
which series of gun fire are sounded. The ceremony is witnesses
by His Majesty the King.
6. Losar
This festival is most impressively observed in the month of January,
February by the Sherpas. They organize folk songs and dances on
this occasion. These dances can be seen in Khumbu, Helambhu and
other northern regions on Nepal and also at Baudhanath in Kathmanduu.
7. Fagu Purnima / Holi
This is known as Holi. Holi is the festival of colour. It is observed
for eight days just before the full moon of Phalgun and during this
time people indulge in colour throwing at each other. This festival
does not have any religious flavour as it is practised in the hills
of Nepal. Nevertheless, the festival has got some official status.
Because the colour festival is always heralded by the sticking of
a wooden pole with colorful streamers beside the old Royal Palace
at Basantapur by the arrangements of the Government Religious Endowment
Office.
8. Chaitra Dashain
Between March and April, family blessings, red vermillion power
and the sacrifice of goats and ducks are the customary ways of praising
the heroic victory of Ram over the evil King Rawan in the Ramayan
epic.
At this time, devotees must also pay homage to the Mother Goddess,
Durga as the source of all power and of the powers which enabled
Ram to achieve his victory.
9. Ghode Jatra
The festival has two sides of its celebration. Its cultural side
involves the Newars of Kathmandu, who celebrates it for several
days, the idols of the Gods of many localities are taken in a procession
in their area in portable chariots. Every households will be feasting
at this time. A demon called “ Gurumapa” is also propitiated at
Tundikhel. The other aspects of the festival is provided by the
function organised by the Royal Nepalese Army at Tundikhel in the
afternoon of the main day. Horse race and acrobatic shows are presented
at this time in which His Majesty the King will be present. A meeting
of Kumari, Bhadrakali, Kankeshori and Bhairab at Asan on the second
day of the main celebration is another highlight of the festival.
10. Bisket Jatra
Bisket Jatra takes place in and around the Bhaktapur district of
Kathmandu during April and is one of the more important festivals.
Events are begun with the erection of the yosin pole (below, centre-right).
Images of wrathful, almost demonic deities are placed on tottering
chariots.
They are offered blood sacrifices, flowers and coins. There follows
a tug of war between north and south in which the more vigorous
(and intoxicated) younger men vie to drag a chariot in their direction
and win good luck for the following year. Wherever the chariots
(or raths) stop along the brick paved streets of the town, lamps
are lit and devotees spill into the surrounding streets and alleys.
Other gods and goddesses are carried around to take in the sights.
At Bode village, there is a tongue-boring ceremony for the dedicated
to reserve a place in heaven.
11. Rato Machhendranath Jatra
This festival is the biggest social-culture event for the town of
Patan. It begins with the chariot journeys of the most widely venerated
deity of the Nepal valley, who resides in his twin shrines at Patan
and Bungamati. His popular name is Bunga Deo, but non Newars call
him also by the name of Red Machhendranath. The wheeled chariot
is prepared at pulchowk and pulled through the town of Patan in
several stages until several month later it reaches Jawalakhel for
the final celebration of this festival called the Bhoto Dekhaune.
The two Machhendranath of Patan and Kathmandu form part of same
cult of Avalokiteswara in the Mahayan religion.
12. Buddha Jayanti
This day which falls on the full moon of the month of Baisakh is
celebrated to commemorate the birth attainment of enlightenment
and the death of Gautam Buddha, the founder preacher of Buddhism,
more that 2500 years ago. Prayers are sung and worship is offered
by the Buddhists in leading Buddhist shrines throughout the country
including Lumbini in the Rupandehi district, which is the birth
place of Buddha. There is a great fare held at Lumbini on this day.
13. Gunla
Following the arrival of the monsoons and the planting season in
the fields, Bhuddists in the Kathmandu Valley observe the Gunla
festival. The month long event celebrates a 'rains retreat' initiated
25 centuries ago by the Buddha.
Gunla is a time for prayer, fasting, meditation and religious music.
Worshippers climb past jungles, stone animals, great statues of
Buddha and begging monkeys to the hilltop at Swayambhu where daily
prayers begin before dawn. Oil lamps, prayer flags, religious statues
and paintings adorn the monasteries whilst temple bells chime and
powerful incense fills the air. Important statues are put on display
and the teachings of Lord Buddha are remembered as the rains feed
the rice crop.
14. Janai Purnima ( Rakchshya Bandhan)
The full moon of the month of Shrawan, the day when this festival
is observed is considered sacred all over Nepal and is celebrated
in different manner by various groups of people of Nepal. However,
the most widely accepted mode of celebration is that on this day
all the twice-born caster take ritual bath and they change their
sacred thread. Everyone gets strings of thread on his wrist from
the Brahmans a protective mark for the whole year. This day is also
held sacred for bathing in Gosainkunda. One can also see a pageantry
of the Jhankris attired in their traditional costume as they come
to bathe at Kumbheshwor at Patan. These Jhankris also visit the
temple of Kalinchowk Bhagwati in Dolkhas district where they go
to bet their healing powers as they are the traditional healers
of the Nepalese villages.
15. Gai Jatra (The Cow festival)
In this festival teen-aged boys dressed up as cows, parade the streets
of the town. This costume springs from the belief that cows help
the members of the family who died within that year to travel to
heaven smoothly. Some are also dressed up as an ascetic or a fool
for achieving the same objective for their dead family members.
Groups of mimics improvise short satirical enactment on the current
social scenes of the town for the entertainment of the public. The
week beginning from Janai Purnima actually unfolds a season of many
good religious and cultural activities. All the Buddhist monasteries
open their gates to the visitors to view their bronze sculptures
and collection of painting for a week. At Patan, one observes the
festival of Mataya at this time.
The festivity of Gai Jatra itself lasts for a week enlivened by
the performance of dance and drama in the different localities of
the town. The spirit of the old festival is being increasingly adapted
by cultural centers, newspaper and magazines to fling humour and
satire on the Nepalese Social and Political life.
16. Teej
Teej is a festival of womanhood. This is a special festival for
married women who are supposed to fast all day and bathe in the
holy waters of the rivers. Dancing, folk songs and the red color
sari that are worn by them on there wedding day dominate the day
of Teej. Red is a symbol of joy and happiness in Nepal and the color
used for marriage ceremonies. Married women are supposed to wear
a lot of red. The days recall the heavenly occasion when Parvati,
daughter of the Himalaya, won the hand of Lord Shiva after severe
meditation and fasting. On the fist day of this festival mothers
send sweet, meat, saris to their daughters' houses. On this day
group of women gather together to feast. At midnights, the women
begin a fast in emulation of Parvati. The second day is for worship.
The married ones ask for happy and productive marriage and a long
life for their husband. Those yet to tie nuptial knots ask for a
good husband. It is believed that their married life will be long
and happy and they will not lose their husbands if they celebrate
this festival. The entrance to Pashupatinath Temple is a good place
to watch as crowds of women come down to the river, dressed in brightly
colored saris with red marks on their foreheads.
Rishi Panchami falls on the third day of Teej. On this day, the
seven rishis, or sages, of the Hindu pantheon are worshipped by
women to cleanse all sins of the previous year. Sages are the symbol
of the purity of religion and holy practices in this earth. On this
day women clad in red dress descend to the holy Temple of Lord Pashupatinath
to pray to Lord Shiva. Women clean their teeth and bathe at the
holy rivers especially at the Bagmati River near the Temple of Pashupatinath.
17. Indra Jatra
Like Gai Jatra, this also heralds a week of religious and cultural
festivity in Kathmandu. There are several face of this festival.
On the night when this festival begins members of the family in
which death has taken place within one year, go around the town
limits of Kathmandu burning incense and putting lamps along the
route. The same morning a tall wooden pole representing the statue
of Indra and large wooden masks of Bhairab are put on display in
the bazaar. Several groups of religious dance like the Devinach,
Bhairava and Bhakku as well as Mahankalinach come into life during
this week. The week also commences with pulling of chariot of Ganesh,
Bhairava and Kumari in Kathmandu. On this historical day, King Prithvi
Narayan Shah made a victorious march with his troops into the town
and ascended the throne of Kantipur the old name of Kathmandu displacing
the Malla King Jaya Prakash Malla.
18. Dashain
It is truly the national festival of Nepal. Every Nepali is stirred
by the prospects of joy that this festival is supposed to bring
with it. The change of mood is also induced psychologically by the
turn of autumn season after a long spell of monsoon, introducing
clear and brilliant days, an azure blue sky and a green carpet of
fields, the climate is also just ideal at this time, it is neither
too cold nor too warm.
The Nepalese cherish their Dashain as time for eating well and dressing
well. Each house sets up shrine to worship the Goddess at this time.
Barley seeds are planted on the first day in every household and
nurtured for nine days. During this period Goddess Durga Bhawani
is worshipped and offered a lot of blood sacrifices. Buffaloes,
goats, chickens and ducks are killed by the thousands at the temples
at military posts and in every household. One of the main center
that witnesses the animal sacrifice in a Large scale at this time
is the Hanuman Dhoka palace on the ninth.
On the concluding day of the festival called the Tika, the elders
of the family give Tika to their junior members and to other relatives
who may also come to seek their blessings. The fresh shoots of the
barley's are also given. Family feasting and feeding of guests is
a common practice at this time.
19. Mani Rimdu
Mani Ramdu is a Sherpa festival celebrated during the autumn at
the Tengboche Monastry in the Everest region. Lamas and Sherpas
gather at the monastery for five days - 'for the good of the world'.
There are plays, masked dances, prayers and feasts.
Demons are quelled and the pious are rewarded. The festival is very
colourful and ideal to combine with a trekking expedition in the
Everest region.
20. Tihar (Festival of Brother and Sisters)
It lasts for five days and is marked by worship to different animals
such as crow, the dog and the cow, five various days. The most important
day is Laxmi puja. The most endearing sight of this festival is
presented by the illumination of the entire town with rows of tiny
flickering lamps on Laxmi puja. In the evening of this day, the
Goddess of Wealth, Laxmi is worshipped at every household and it
is on her welcome that myriad of lamps are burnt. On the fifth day
sister show their affection towards their brothers with puja and
feed them with delectable food. They pray for their brother's long
life to Yama, the Hindu God of death.
21. Bala Chaturdarsi
For one year after the death, the soul of the dead wanders around
awaiting entrance to the under world and it is the inescapable duty
of living relatives to provide it with substance, comfort and peace
once or twice each year and Bala Chaturdasi is one of them. The
relatives pay homage to Pashupatinath and offer grains while taking
a round of the temple.
22. Bibah Panchami
Each December, during Bibah Panchami, the Hindu world re-enacts
and celebrates the marriage of Ram to princess Sita, as told in
the epic, Ramayana. King Janak (Sita's father) proposed a test of
strength for the suitors of his daughter. To prove their worth,
suitors had to string the great bow of Lord Shiva.
Kings, Chieftains and warriors visited from afar but no man could
even lift the bow. Ram, however, lift the bow with ease and when
he tried to string it, the bow shattered into pieces. Ram and Sita
were married in Janakpur (now in eastern Nepal) and their
marriage
is celebrated to this day. Each year, idols of Ram and Sita are
taken on procession and their marriage re-enacted during a week
long religious fair. Bibah Panchami reflects the devotion of Hindus
to Ram, perhaps the most popular of the incarnations of Vishnu,
and to Sita - model of the ideal Hindu woman.
23. Yomari Punhi
As the rice crop is gathered in December, farmers in the Kathmandu
Valley prepare to give thanks for the harvest during Yomari Punhi.
The Yomari is a special cake make from the flour of new rice. A
shell of dough is filled with melted raw sugar and sealed. After
the cake is steamed, it is presented to the gods as an offering.
Later, the Yomari is eaten as blessed food. So it is that each year
when the storerooms are full and the farmers' toiil has been rewarded,
the gods are thanked for their benevolence and generosity.
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