| INTRODUCTION
The
rich cultural heritage of Nepal is best expressed in the many large
and small festivals that occur through out the year. Though the
Nepalese have diverse beliefs and ethnic backgrounds all unites
in the celebration of the year's major festivals. There are many
kinds of festivals some honour certain Hindu and Buddhist gods or
goddesses some recreate important events from an ancient mythology
and epic literature. Some herald the seasons or mark important times
in the agricultural calendar and others propititate the minor that
populate the spirit world of country. Festivals as Dashain and Tihar
are of national significance such as Bisket or Red Machchhendranath
Jatra belong to the traditions of the old Valley towns and still
others such as Mani Rimdu are celebrated only in a particular country
side community. It has been said that "I Nepal-every other
building is a temple and every day is a festival." Whatever
time one visits Nepal there is certain to be a colourful and ewwarding
festive experience
FESTIVBALS
JAN-FEB
Sweta
Machhendranath Snan
Sweta (white) Machhendranath enjoys a week-long festival in which
he is bathed, Oiled perfumed and painted. The Goddess Kumari visits
him at his elaborate temple near Asan Tole. If he is pleased by
the music offerings, and attentions of his divotees the people of
the Valley can look forward to satisfactory rainfall in the planting
season.
Swasthani
Puja
Goddess Swasthani's three eyes burn like the sun. She is the ultimate
gift grantor if insulted she can make life miserable. By worshipping
Swasthani Parbati attained Lord Shiva as her husband. In the worship
rites of Goddess Swasthani outlined by Parbati the Swasthani scripture
is read every evening for a month. Worshipping Swasthani will bring
together parted relations remove curses and result in limitless
gifts.
Maghe
Sankranti
In the holy month of Magh (Jan-Feb) the sun enters the southern
hemisphere and the days begin to grow longer and warmer. Lord Vishnu
the Preserver is thanked for his efforts. On Maghe Sankranti (the
first day of Magh) people take an early morning bath in a holy river
visit the shrines of Vishnu and present flowers incense and food
to him. They read the Bhagwad Gita also known as The songs of the
Gods rub mustard oil over their bodies and enjoy feasts of rice
cooked with lentils yams or taruls - a must - and laddu wheets made
of sesame and sugarcane paste.
Basanta
Panchami and Saraswati Puja
Basanta or spring ushers in the loveliest time of the year. Crowds
gather at Kathmandu's Durbar Square while His Majesty the King and
other dignitaries welcome the season as a band plays the traditional
sonf og spring. A different celebration occurs at Swayambhu and
at the Nil Barahi Shrine near Lazimpat. Saraswati the goddess of
learning arts and crafts is worshiped at her temples. Artists, Musicians,
Teachers, and students bring floers, unbroken rice and other gifts
to please her.
FEB-MAR
Maha
Shivaratri
Lord Shiva is one of Nepal's most popular gods. During Maha Shivaratri
his "Great Night" followers throughout the Indian sub-continent
crowd the Pashupati temple to worshtip him. On this occasion there
is no space event for a sesame seed. Colorful Sadhus the wandering
sages who emulate Shiva rub ashes over their bodies, give lecture
to disciples meditate or practice yoga. Devotees pray to Shiva's
image inside the the temple at midnight and may queue for up to
six hours to look at image. Bonfirs are lit neighbours and friends
share foo and devotees ejoy two days and a night of music song and
dance throughout the Pashupati complex and in the streets.
Losar
Sherpas and Tibetans welcome their New Year feasts family visits
and dancing. Families don their finest clothes and jewellery and
exchange gifts. Buddhist monks offer prayers for good health and
prosperity and perform dances at the monasteries. Colorful prayer
flags decorate streets and rooftops the colors seem especially brilliant
at the Bouddha and Swayambhu stupas. Crowds of celebrants at Bouddha
bring in the New Year by throwing tsampa (roasted barley flour)
into the air.
Fagu
Purnima
Fagu Purnima or Holi is one of the most colorful and playful festival
of Nepal. The Chir Pole decorated woth colorful flags and erected
on the first day of Fagu at Kathmandu's Durbar Square is a formal
announcement to all hide your good clothes for throughout the week
you may be splashed with colored powder and water balloons. The
last day is the wildest youths covered with red vermillion powder
roam the streests as inviting targets.
MAR-APR
Chaitra
Dasain
Red vermillion powder family blessing and goat and duck sacrifices
are essential to praise the victory of Ram hero of the epic Ramayana
over the evil king Rawan. Mother Goddess Durga the source of all
power must be supplicated too for her powers helped Ram achieve
his visctory.
Ghode
Jatra
Ghode Jatra the festival of horses is a yearly sports even taking
place at the Tundikhel parade ground in central Kathmandu. Its roots
go back several hundred years though it is also associated with
older religious traditions. At midnight as the parade grounds the
images of Bhadra Kali and her sister goddess are carried from their
respective temples and placed in the middle of the dark expanse.
A third sister goddess is then brought from another locality and
made bow before the first two images. The actual horse-racing is
conducted with great gusto and spectators come from all over the
Valley as well as from more distant to witness the exciting event.
Their Majesties the King and the Queen are also a part of the jatra
audience.
APR-MAY
Biska
Jatra
During this important festival, the old kingdom of Bhaktapurand
its neighbouring areas replay a brama passed on over the centuries.
Images of wrathful and somewhat demonic details are placed on tottering
chariots. They are offered blood sacrifices flowers and coins. Men
brimming with youthful vigor and rice beer drag the chariost across
brick-paved streets of the town and whereever these raths stop lamps
are lit and devotees overflow into the surrounding alleys. Other
gods and goddesses to are put on palanquins and carried around so
that they may see the sights. At Bode village there is a tongue-boring
ceremony in which the dedicated may reserve a placed in heaven.
New
Year's Day
The Nepalese follow their own calendar system known as the Bikram
Era or Bikram Sambat. Nawabarsha is celebrated on the first day
of the first month of the new year and is observed as an official
holiday. In bhaktapur fifteen kilometers from Kathmandu the New
Year celebrations take on added importance at Bisket Jatra. Images
of the god Bhairav and his female counterpart Bhadrakali are enshrined
in two large chariots and pulled through crowds of cheering on lookers.
Whenthe chariot reaches a sloping open square there is a tug-of-war
between the inhabitants of the upper and lower parts of the town.
Winners are considered to be blessed with good fortune for the coming
year. The festival concludes with several days of dancing and worship.
Thimi another ancient town of the valley also celebrates the New
Year with special festivities.
Red
Machhendranath Jatra
This festival takes place in Patan. During the celebrations the
towering chariot of Lord Machchhendranath is pulled by ropes through
the narrow streets of the city followed by a large crowd of worshippers
in front of the chariot. A small crowd of musicians soldiers add
even more excitment to the occasion. Over a period of several weeks
the chariot is slowly hauled to Jawalakhel where thousands of devotees
burn oil lamps and keep an all-bight vigil. During this chariot
festival the Bhoto or Scared waistcoat itself the subject to many
legends is displayed from the chariot. A final ritual is then conducted
to mark Lord Machchhendranath's yearly return to his home in the
nearby village of Bungmati.
Buddha
Jayanti
Ever-benevolent Buddha was born in Nepal and the religion he preached
is second most popular in the kingdom. On May 6 a full moon day
the Lord's birth enlightment and salvation are applauded throughout
the valley with celebrations. Swayambhu and Boudhanath Stupas are
prepared for the oncoming festivities several days in advance. Monasteries
are cleaned statues arepolished bright prayer flags waft in the
breeze and monks prepare to dance. On the jayanti day, people reach
the stupas before dawn go around them and give offerings to the
many Buddha images there.
JUL-AUG
Gunla
The monsoon has arrived and the fields have been planted it time
for Kathmandu valley Buddhists to observe Gunla. The month-long
festivities celebrate a retreat-initiated twenty-five centuries
ago by Buddha. It is time for prayer fasting meditation and religious
music. Worshippers climb past jungles stone animals great statues
of the Buddha and begging monkeys to Swayambhu's hilltop where daily
prayers begin before dawn. Oil lamps prayer falgs religious statues
and scroll paintings adorn the monateries as temple bells chime
and powerful scents fill the air. Important Buddhist statues and
monasteries are on display at the monsateries and the teaching of
Lord Buddha are remembered as the rains nurture the rice NEpal's
most important crop.
Janai
Punima
On Janai Punima a full moon day high-caste Hindus chant the powerful
Gayatri mantra and change their Sacred Thread (Janai) while a raksya
bandhan a red or yellow protection cord is tied around the wrists
of other Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims journey to the mountains
north of Kathmandu. Here they emulate Lord Shiva by bathing in the
sacred lake of Gosaikunda. Those unamle to make the trek celebrate
at Shiva's Kumbheswar Mahadev temple. Here a pool with an image
of Shiva at its center is filled with water.
AUG-SEP
Gai
Jatra
The gai or cow is holy to Hindus. She represents Laxmi the goddess
f wealth and guides the soul of the departed to the gates of the
Netherworld. But gai jatra is not a somber occasion. Satire jokes
fancy costumes and colourful processions are the order of the day
as people recall how and 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 take comfort in the fact that the gai has safely transported
the departed souls on their afterlife journey. Young men wearing
women's saris children dressed up as cows and whimsical characters
of all sorts fill the streets. Special issues of local magazines
poke fun at everyone and everything-even the most important people
aren't spared.
Krishnashtami
Krishnashtami or the birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated in commemoration
of the hero of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. On this day worshippers
carry ornate decorated statues and pictures of Lord Krishna through
the streets often with bands of musicians following or preceding
the procession. In Patan thousands of devotees flock to the Krishna
temple to worship and receive blessing.
Teej
Pashupati the temple of Shiva is drenched in crimson during Teej
as women in their fine red weeding saris crowd the temple grounds.
This unique women's festival is marked by fasting folk songs and
dancing as the women recall Parbati's devotion to her husband Shiva.
Married women visit their fathers homes. All daughter and sisters
receive gifts from their malekin and an elaborate feast is prepared
for them. It's a loed and cheerful celebration until late at night
when strict fasting begins. Unmarried who fast on this day will
have good luck in finding suitable husbands. Married women who fast
will find their husbands faihtful and will see the borid of love
grow. The blessing of Shiva and Parbatiensure that family life will
be joyous for all.
SEP-OCT
Indra
Jatra
Indra King of Heaven and controller of the rains has once again
blessed the Valley. As the ends monsoon nears farmers look forward
to a rich harvest everyone is greatful to the deva for his help.
For eight days Kathmandu's Durbar Square is the focus of a great
celebration fit to flatter the King of Heaven. Indra's dhwas or
flag is erected on the first day. 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 Valley people. When Indra's
mother came searching for him the people were appalled by what they
had done. They released Indra and dedicated one of the most colourful
festivals of Nepal to him to appease his anger. Masks and statues
representing Vishnu Bhairab and Shiva are shown to the public and
the Goddess Kumari witnesses the special occasion from her chariot.
Indra is thanked for the rains and assured once again that he is
respected in the Kathmandu Valley.
Dasain
Dasain is the longest and most favorite festival of Nepal. Everyone
stays at home with their families offices close and Radio Nepal
plays Dasain music. The skies of KAthmandu are filled with Kites
and the marketplaces are filled with farmers bringing their buffaloes,
goats and chicken to sell. The animals are to scrificed on the night
of Kal Ratri to the Goddess Durga to celebrate her victory over
evil. One the day of Dashami everyone puts on new clothes and goes
to honor their family elders where they receive large red tikas
of vermilion paste on their foreheads. In the following days of
Dasin families and friends unite feasts are consumed blessing are
imparted and gifts are exchanged. Nepal's most beloved festival
ends with the full moon.
OCT-NOV
Mani
Rimdu
Mani Rimdu is a Sherpa festival celebrated during the fall at Tengboche
Monstery in the everest region. For five days, Lamas and Sherpas
gather for "the good of the world." There are plays masked
dances prayers and feastings demons are quelled and the pious rewarded.
The days are colorful and trips to the Everest region are Very rewarding
indeed if they can be organized during the days of the festival.
Tihar
Tihar known as the festival of Lights is a time of candlelight tinsel
decorations and festive colored sweets. On different days there
are offerings and small celebrations for crows, dogs, cows and oxen.
On the nught of Lakshmi puja garlands are hung and lamps are lighted
to invite Lakshmi the goddess of wealth into the home. Mha Puja
the New Year's Day according to the Nepal Era is the day of the
self when people give themselves blessings to remain healthy and
happy for the rest of the year. Bhai Tika the last day of Tihar
is the day when sisters make offerings to their brothers. The rituals
of breaking walnut putting on garlands of makhamali flowers and
encircling brothers in rings of mustard oil protects them from Yama
lord of the Netherworld.
NOV-DEC
Bala
Chaturdarsi
This siple festive day takes place in the ancient forest surrounding
the temple of Pashupatinath. It is one of the oldest traditions
of the Valley. Families who have lost a loved one in the last year
keep an all-night vigil in the forst lighting oil lamps and singing
songs. Following a ritual morning bath people walk through the forest
scattering seven types of grain alongs the paths and over the linga
of Lord Shiva to give merit to their late kinsmen and to cleanse
the sins of mythological man called Bala who had been transformed
into a demon.
Bibah
Panchami
All the people of the Hindu world know the story of marriage of
the hero Ram and the princess Sita as told in the epic Ramayana.
King Janak Sita's father proposed a tst of strength for the suitors
of his daughter to string the great bow of Lord Shiva. Warriors
Kings and chieftains come from after but no man could even lift
the bow. Ram lifted 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 southern Nepal and their marriage is celebrated to this day.
Each year idols of Ram and Sita are brought out in procession and
their Hindu weeding ceremony is re-enacted during a week-longreligious
fair.Bibah PAcnchami reflects the devotion of Hindus to Ram perhaps
the most popular among the incarnations of Vishnu and to Sita the
model of the ideal Hindu woman.
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