Festivals In Nepal

Due to the 100s of festivals in Nepal, we can tell the Country of festivals and languages, isn’t it?

There are different ethical groups in Nepal from East Mechi to West Mahakali. They have their own costumes, traditions, languages, and chard festivals. These chard festivals carry their own purposes Chard festivals are an invaluable treasure of our culture,

Similarly, there is a mirror to observe us। In the Terai region of Nepal, some festivals are influenced by India, and in the Himalayan region by Tibet of China. As Nepal is an agricultural country, some of the chard festivals here are related to agriculture.

11 Biggest Festivals in Nepal

1. Nepal Festival: Bisket Jatra

Bisket Jatra is celebrated according to the Solar Calendar. This procession is celebrated by the Newari community of Bhaktapur with joy and happiness. The lingo(manmade wooden tower) of the Bisket Jatra is performed at the “Chuping Ghat” on the day of the end of Chaitra They fall and then wake this Lingo after the second day.

Before this festival celebration just 2 days but later on celebrate at 8 days. This festival is celebrated at the two lingo colleagues on that day. The tradition of this procession is believed to have been going on since the 12th century AD.

This Festival is associated with religious legends. The main purpose of the procession is the end of one power, and the rise of another.

2. Buddha Jayanti Festival in Nepal

Buddha Jayanti falls on the full moon day. On that day, Gautama Buddha is reminded of three things in particular

A) In Lumbini, Siddhartha Gautama ‘Buddha’s birthday

B) In Bodhgaya, the day Gautama Buddha ‘received enlightenment

C) In Kushinagar, the day Gautama Buddha attained Nirvana

On this auspicious day, the various Buddhist stupa monasteries, especially in Swoyambhunath, Boudhnath, and Lumbini, are worshiped and kept Buddha statues in khat and carried around the city in memory of Gautama Buddha.

Similarly, in Buddhist stupas and monasteries, Buddha mantra sermons are written on 5 colors of cloth. The main purpose of the spell is to symbolize the five elements (sky, earth, water, air, and fire). In other words, it is believed that these mantras reach heaven through the air.

It is believed that it will atone for your sins. In order to get rid of Devakran, Buddhists from different countries are present to pay homage to the great people.

Buddha jayanti Festival in Nepal
Buddha Jayanti Festival in Nepal

3. Teej Fasting Lady Festival

Fasting should be on the third day of Bhadra in the Nepali calendar or August 19 in the English calendar. The fast is observed by ordinary Hindu women. According to the mythology, Jagdamba Parvati is said to have started this fast with the great desire to get Jagadishwar Lord Mahadev as a husband.

Similarly, ordinary Hindu women take this fast so that Hindu women can fulfill their desires. The Government of Nepal also gives leave on that day On the night of Bhadra Dwitiya or August 18, all the sisters get together and eat dar(like rice pudding)at midnight. And on the day of Tritiya or August 19, clear the soul and go to the river, or lake and become pure then worship Shivaji or Mahadev.

They dance and sing. In the evening, worship Shivaji and burn the fire, Some sisters stay up all night, And the morning bath and giving a curd(Argha) to the sun finished The characteristic of this fast is the belief that the soul is purified and the work done by the mind and word is completed. In other words, you have to save your festivals.

4. Dashain Festival especially for Hindus

Dashain is considered the greatest festival of Hindus. Mahamaya Bhagwati Durga is glorified in this festival. She killed the demon king Mahishasura, a symbol of evil.

Therefore, this festival was associated with the struggle between the demons and the human demons. It is being celebrated on the auspicious occasion of the victory of light over dark or demon characters against the god character.

Darshai is usually celebrated twice a year ।This festival is named Dashain as it lasts continuously for ten days from Chaitra Ashtami and Ashwinshukla Pratipada to Dashami.

Two things are considered important to be done on the first day of the festival । Putting the first Jamara(the grain immigrants with mud and water to make buds), and installing the second ghat Kalash(water in a big bowl) is called Ghatasthapana. Similarly, the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth dates have the highest significance.

On the seventh day, flowers (banana tree, ginger herbs, sugarcane votes, etc.) are brought into the Dashaighar. Similarly, on Ashtami and Navami, special worship of Durga Bhavani is performed and Vali(killing animals and giving blood to the goddess) is offered.

On the day of Dashmi(10th day) finish by giving a red tika and yellow Jamara-bud (gift from Durga Bhawani) and take blessings. The old family members give blessings to the younger turn by turn respectively.

5. Tihar Brother and Sister Festival:

This festival is celebrated from Kartik Krishnapaksha Triodashi to Ddhitiya Day(October middle). Tihar festival is also considered Yem Panchak. Animals, humans, and deities seem to be treated equally in the festival.

On the first day, the crow is worshiped. The crow is considered a carrier of communication and the other crow teaches us to live together forever.

On the second day we worship the dog। We consider the dog as Bhairav. We have learned a lot from that animal. Such as Swami Bhakta(loyal), clever and peaceful.

On the third day, we worship Lakshmi or morning cow। In the evening, Lakshmi is specially worshiped, wishing for the auspicious light to destroy the darkness in the atmosphere and to remove the darkness of despair, sorrow, ignorance, and misery in life.

On the fourth day, Govardhan Puja, or bull worship is performed.

On that day, Newars consider it as Mhapuja. They seem to have adopted Mhapuja according to the teaching of remembering God in their own heart without relying on external deities. That day Nepal calendar (Nepal Sambat) will change.

On the fifth day, the last day, Bhai Tika, The relationship between sister and brother is not the same between any two men and women but As brothers and sisters like a closest friend, their pure relationship has been a social norm since ancient times.

Accordingly, like the relationship between the faithful Bibaswan son Yama and Yami, the day of perpetuating the holy pure love between brothers and sisters till now is the second day of Karthik.

On that day, there is a tradition of giving food at Sister Vahini’s house and respecting Bahini by brothers. sisters give good food, and brother gifts a lot to her sisters as he can.

Indra Jatra Festivals in Nepal
Indra Jatra Festivals in Nepal

6. Chhatha:

Without the sun, human creation and condition are impossible. Therefore, Lord Surya is considered as the doer, In the Puranas, the Sun is said to be an inexhaustible source of light and a very bright planet.

Accordingly, the common Tarai people celebrate the Chhath festival on the day of Kartik Shukla Shashti. The women purify their souls and go to the river or stream and give argha(curd) to the setting sun and they stay up all night worshiping the sun। Early in the morning on the second day, they purify themselves and go to the water resources and give curd to the sun.

On this occasion, they offer a variety of fruits and bread to the sun god The bread is inscribed with the Pandagra(wheel) symbol of the chariot of Lord Sun. It is believed that fasting brings longevity to the family as well as Putra Ratna(Son gift).

7. Maghe Sankranti

Since there are 12 months in a year there are only 12 Sakranti (1st day of the month). The first day of each month is considered as Sankranti Sankranti means moving from one sign of the Sun to another, so the sign in which the Sun enters. The name of that solstice is famous for the name of the same zodiac sign.

There are 12 zodiac signs, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius Pisces। Especially Saune Sankranti and Maghe Sankranti are considered important. It is believed that bathing, giving alms, penance, and performing Homadi at various places of pilgrimage such as Devghat, Chatara, etc.

Capricorn solstice is considered to be the setting of the sun and Cancer solstice is considered to be the setting of the Uttarayan is the day of the gods and Dakshinayan is the night. Thus, when Uttarayan is the day of the gods, people have a great desire to die in Uttarayan.

It is described in the Mahabharata that Bhishma, who was blessed with the gift of voluntary death, was wounded in the battle of Mahabharata and was on his deathbed waiting for his death। From the base, it is proved that Capricorn solstice is more important than all other solstices.

On the day of Makar Sankranti, people eat ghee, knives(sugarcane sweet), sesame seeds, fish, meat, yams, and porridge. In winter, fire is rampant in people’s bodies. Ayurveda has indicated that if they do not eat well at this time, they will get disorders in their body.

8. Lhosar

Lhosar is one of the important festivals of Nepal. Large crowds living in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Gurungs, Tamangs, and Sherpas have been celebrating this festival every year. It would not be an exaggeration to say that welcoming the arrival of the new year with joy is the oldest festival in the world, which is celebrated with enthusiasm.

some of the festivals of the tent seem to have influenced Tibet and China in the north and India in the south. The present festival can be taken in the context of this reality

The beginning of the Lhosar festival is the New Year, which developed in different parts of Tibet and China five, six thousand years ago.

There are three types of Lhosar:

1, Tola Lhosar: The Gurungs celebrate Poush 15th as the New Year.

2, Sonam Lhosar: The Tamang caste celebrates the New Year on January 30.

They call 12 years by the names of 12 animals.

1. Mouse 2. Cattle 3. Tiger 4. Cat 5. Mythical bird(Eagle) 6 May 7. Bird 8. Dog 9. wild boar 10. Horse 11. Monkey 12 sheep

Thus the 12 years is considered to be a cycle. It is called Lhokhorlo.On this occasion, the Tamang castes wear their costumes and all gather to exchange New Year’s greetings and dance.

3, Gyalpo Lhosar: The Sherpas of the Himalayas celebrate the New Year on the 14th of Falgun. On that day, houses, Gombas, stupas, etc. are cleaned, worshiped, and lights, and as an offering, they eat Guthuk of 9 (nau) mixed grains.

Another characteristic of Sherpas is that on New Year’s morning, those who first bring water from Padhera(tap) are believed to receive nectar.

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9. Dumje festival

Dumje festival is celebrated by Sherpa castes in the month of July. The festival is celebrated for a week. A committee “Lava” is set up to conduct this festival. This committee arranges the entire work.

The main reason for celebrating this festival is believed to be the commemoration of the death of the famous Lama Sanga Dorje in Solu and Khumbukshetra. He is recognized as the founder of the Tyangboche and Pangboche gompas as a saint with divine power.

Gompa is the focal point of the Dumje festival. Sherpas from non-gompa villages go to gompa villages to celebrate this festival

During the first two days of the festival, lamas and laws form a joint work. On other days, important Buddhist texts are recited by Buddhagrantha(Buddhist book).In order to keep the invisible forces influential in the village and society away from the society, all the evils are symbolized.

Mainly Torma is made of ghee and other (rice or flour)The torma worships the symbols of various gods and goddesses who destroy demons. On that occasion, two texts are read. The first text (Kamjen Jikangso) warns people against committing atrocities, while the second (Chaik) texts the rules to be followed in Gompa.

10. Mani-Rimdu festival.

The Mani-Rimdu festival is a popular festival of the Sherpa caste, it is celebrated in Gompas. This festival is celebrated in Thame and Tyangboche gompas of Solukhumbu and Khumbu region.

The main lamas of Gompa dance to classical music, wearing masks that convey the meaning of various deities and demonic powers. The main reason for the lamas to dance is to wish happiness, peace, and prosperity to the devotees of Buddhism. The festival lasts for 4 days.

There is a discussion on how to conduct the festival on a muddy day. On the second day, the main lamas sit in the middle and around the other lamas in the gompa towards the stage. Of these, lamas who play various instruments in dance and worship are also lined up.

As this festival is dance-oriented, the monks who are trained to play the instruments used are lined up with the instruments. After all the preparations for the dance, the trumpet of human bones is played from the roof of the gonpa. The dance begins after the chief lama gives permission.

The dance is performed by the first six lamas. The lamas then perform other emotional dance dramas, most notably the dance of King Doje, Habomi Chering.

On the last day, all the lamas are burnt at the altar. The conclusion of the program is called Civijinsak.

11. Shiva night (shivaratri) cannabus Smoking festival

Shiva Ratri falls on Phagun Krishna Chaturdashi. This day is considered as the holiest date for Hindus. Jyotirlinga was the first to appear on this day. As described in the Ishaan Samhita, the fast of Shivaratri should be done by all human beings knowingly or unknowingly It is mentioned that if completed, he will attain inexhaustible virtue.

Since when was the festival celebrated, when all the material was destroyed during the Great Flood? Lord Shankara danced the Tandava and the sound of his drums permeated the whole atmosphere of science in a subtle way. It is said that since then, the greatness of Mahashivaratri has been safe till today.

According to the Skanda Purana, a person who fasts on this date stays awake and worships Shiva properly, He does not have to be born on this earth again, in other words, he is free. This festival is definitely satisfying for me.

Lord Shiva himself had told Jagajjani Parvati that he would be satisfied if he offered me only Velapatra out of reverence.

After chanting and worshiping in the Samavedic and Kragvedic systems, Shiva is worshiped four times in each procession according to the rules of worship. Dhuni is played on that day.

On that day, Pashupati and other Shivalayas are crowded with big pilgrims. Most of the saints from indigenous and neighboring countries start coming a week in advance.

The Pashupati Development Fund, Guthi Sansthan, and other organizations have assisted them in making arrangements for their livelihood. On the occasion, the concerned bodies necessary to pay attention to such social evils of buying food in the name of Gaza cannabis.