Besides the high Mountains, Nepal is famous as the land of festivals, where more than 50 festivals are celebrated yearly. All national festivals have fixed dates, but astrologers set the religious festivals following the lunar calendar. All the events are marked with the same enthusiasm in large numbers, which is the best part of the festivals in Nepal. It used to be as entertainment with their passion for hundreds of years ago.
List of festivals in Nepal
New Year:
In Nepal, it is called "Navavarsha," as the official almanac begins from the first day of the first month of Baisakh, practiced as a Nepali New Year. Usually, it starts in the second week of April. People celebrate this new year festival by socializing in different ways, like picnics and getting-together. This is also a National holiday.
Lhosar (Tibetan New Year):
The Tibetans, Sherpas and Manangays, and some of the Tamang and Gurungs who live in high altitudes of Nepal celebrate this Festival as a new year in February. Kathmandu-Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are decorated with colorful prayer flags, and people perform their traditional dances wearing new clothes and jewelry and exchanging gifts. The Festival begins with the cleaning of the house thoroughly and everything it. Each day is marked by a ritual like the throwing away of evil on the first day, and drinking alcoholic beverages is a part of the Lhosar Festival. Hence everyone will be very cheerful at this Festival. The monks perform rituals in every monastery for the good of all humanity and hold ceremonies to eliminate evil spirits from the earth.
Saraswati Puja:
This is called Shree Panchami, as well as the birthday of Saraswati. Saraswati is the Goddess of Wisdom in Hinduism. The students and other people worship the Goddess Saraswati to gain knowledge and wisdom with their deep faith. People celebrate the Saraswati Puja, or Shree Panchami, the birthday of Goddess Saraswati. Students worship their pen, pencil, copy, and Book on this auspicious day to please the Goddess and expect good luck and favor in their studies so they become wiser and more knowledgeable. People also throng around the idol of Goddess Saraswati, especially in Swayambhunath, and offer flowers, sweets, fruits, etc. Today, small children are taught to read and write; people write on stones and slabs with chalks and pencils. This day which falls between January/February is regarded as a very auspicious day for marriages, too, as it is believed that Goddess Saraswati herself blesses the couples. The astrologers usually fix the marriage date and time in Nepal.
Shivaratri:
This is one of the major festivals in Nepal. It means "Night of Lord Shiva" falls between late February - early March. In the Hindu religion, Lord Shiva is the most potent and kind God. So the people worship Lord Shiva very much. One of the holiest shrines of Hindu people in Kathmandu is Pashupatinath Temple- so thousands and thousands of people gather here and worship Lord Shiva on this occasion. He is the most worshipped God in the Hindu religion. "Pashupatinath" literally means "the Lord of animals," as Lord Shiva is considered the guardian and protector of everything in the Himalayan Kingdom. On this holy day, Sadhu (Hindu holy men) and other devotees take a bath in the sacred river Bagmati early in the morning and fast for the whole day. After that, devotees and sadhus smolder marijuana as believed to please Lord Shiva, which is legal for this occasion.
Holi:
This is called the "Phagu" festival, and playing with colors and water extends their friendship and love among them between February-March in Nepal. This is the celebration day of killing Holika, a female demon who, together with her king brother, encouraged her to kill his son Prahlad, a passionate devotee of Lord Vishnu. People make different colors and enjoy throwing colors and water balloons at each other.
Ghode Jatra:
This Festival is a magnificent horse parade performed at Tundikhel in March-April. On this occasion, there will be a grand horse parade, horse race, and many other exciting sports activities performed by the Army in the presence of the Prime minister and other officials. Hundreds of thousands of people will be gathered to see and enjoy this Festival at Tundikhe in Kathmandu.
Buddha Jayanti:
Buddha's birth anniversary is celebrated yearly in Nepal on a full moon day in late April or early May. Which is also the day He achieved enlightenment and also the day he attained nirvana. Buddha was born in Lumbini in south Nepal more than 2500 years ago. On this occasion, people gather at Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, and many other Monasteries to worship Lord Buddha. In addition, many people visit Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini, chant prayers, burn butter lamps, and worship Lord Buddha. In all three cities, Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, the people carry images of Buddha, prayer flags, and banners through the streets in processions.
Gai Jatra(Cow Festival):
The cow festival is celebrated every year in late August or early September. This Festival was started to perform by a King named Pratap Malla, who had lost his son. Hoping to reassure his Queen, who was overcome with grief, he ordered his people, who had lost a family member during the past year, to bring out a procession in their honor. He hoped the Queen would realize that she was not alone in her grief. Many people are seen leading a cow to bring the procession. Hence the name is Gai Jatra. Nepal was a Hindu country, so the cow was Nepal's sacred and national animal. Hindu people do not eat cow meat, which is regarded as a Goddess. Hence this is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal as it is full of absurdity, pleasantry, contempt, and sadness and has great fun. On this occasion, it is officially authorized to Joke and satire anybody in the country and is widely celebrated in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan.
Krishna Janmashtami:
Lord Krishna is the 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna celebrate in August-September on the seventh day of the dark lunar fortnight. Many Hindu and Buddhist people go to the Krishna temple at Patan to worship, which is a very ancient Krishna temple. People worship and pray and offer flowers, food, sweets, and chant hymns in the name of Lord Krishna. There is a procession of trucks with portraits of Lord Krishna. People come to the temple from everywhere with musical instruments singing devotional songs praising Lord Krishna the whole day and night. The celebration's primary focus is Lord Krishna's temple at Patan Durbar Square. People decorate the temple with oil wick lamps and incense kept in flames the night with the devotees. It is said and believed that Lord Krishna was born at Midnight and raised by a cowherd; hence women shower their idol with butter, milk, and sweets. Many people keep worshipping Lord Krishna until the following early morning.
Teej:
This is a beautiful day for a Hindu married woman for her husband to celebrate in August-September. Women are dressed in a fantastic red Sari, singing and dancing together everywhere in Nepal at this Festival. All women take fast and pray to Lord Shiva for the protection, long life, health, and successful life of their husbands and their families.
Indra Jatra:
In Nepal, this Indra Jatra festival celebrates in the name of Lord Indra – the God of Rain and also the King of Heaven(Gods) by both Hindus and Buddhists in late August-early September, and this Festival last for eight days, singing, dancing with mask, and rejoicing with the Chariot of Kumari- the living Goddess is taken with the salute through the main street of Kathmandu. Indra Jatra is one of the most stunning festivals and has much folklore intermingled with the acts of various deities. People make a ceremonial flag pole at Durbar square, which is believed. This takes place on the twelfth day of the waxing moon. The pole is supposed to represent a similar flag- a pole given to Lord Indra by the God Vishnu. At Indra Chowk, the Akash Bhairav mask is brought out of the Bhairav temple and placed in front of the temple. It is then worshipped and decorated with colorful flowers and offers food, fruits, and sweets. Legend is that Lord Krishna cut off the head of a Kirati King( during the war of Maha-Bharat, five thousand years ago) when he showed up to fight for the rival side. It is said that his head flew to Kathmandu valley. Since then, his head represents the heavy blue mask kept in the temple. During the Festival, People take this mask, show it to the public in the street, and perform their dances wearing a different type of mask. This dance is called the Lakhe dance. The chariot procession of the Living Goddess Kumari is another essential part of this Festival. Kumari visits the street, sitting on her Chariot, and is worshipped in every place by the people.
Dashain (Bijaya Dasami):
This is Nepal's longest and biggest auspicious Festival, celebrated for 15 days by all cast and communities, and faith throughout the country from late September to early October. At this Festival, people worship Goddess Durga numerously in all her manifestations. All the family members celebrate the Festival with ritual ceremonies every day. Many animals are sacrificed during this period of Dashain to celebrate this Festival. People enjoy their time drinking, feasting, gambling, and visiting all their relatives.
Tihar:
This is the second biggest Festival after Dashain and is known as the fire festival celebrated in October-November. On this occasion, people worship Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth, decorating their houses and lit candles, oil lamps, and other lights to illuminate the places. It is believed that on this day, the Goddess Laxmi visits all the houses that have been well-lit, hence the tradition of lighting oil-wick lamps. The Festival lasts for five days, and people worship cows, crows, and dogs and are honored with a garland, vermilion, and delicious food. The last day of the Tihar brother's day is called "Bhai Tika" as well; sisters put the Tika on their brother's forehead and bless them for his protection and long, happy, and prosperous life, and Every brother offers a special gift to their sister. Then, they go door to door and sing a festival song.
Chhat:
Chhat is one of the most important festivals for people, especially in the Terai region. At this Festival, people worship the Sun God. At the beginning of this Festival, people prepare a variety of foodstuffs to offer the Sun God and use after a day-long fast. Then, all the devotees gather on the bank of the river to celebrate this Festival and pray to the Sun God. The Festival's first day starts in the late afternoon when sunset begins. After that, all the devotees start offering different types of fruits and foods on the river bank and pray to Sun God, then put their lighted oil-wick lamps on the river and make it float over the river's surface. Devotee gathers the following day again before the sun rises, and as soon as it grows, they start to take a bath, enter into the river water, and keep praying to Sun God and turning several times into the water. Finally, there will be a massive gathering on the bank of the river, and all the devotees will take the blessing food and fruits to distribute to family and friends.
Bisket Jatra (Festival):-
This Festival is celebrated at Bhaktapur during the Nepali New Year in mid-April. There will be two chariots, one for the God Bhairav and the other for his consort-Bhadrakali known as Bhairavi. This Festival lasts for nine days visiting different shrines of the Goddess Durga. There will be a huge crowd to celebrate and watch this Festival. The 70 ft pole with two large banners of cloth hanging from the top crosspiece is erected near the open shrine of Bhadrakali. During this Festival, two Chariots are brought up to Bhadrakali. This is a fascinating contest between the upper city and a lower city of Bhaktapur, pulling Chariot to be the first in position.
Seto-Machhendranath:
The Seto Machhendranath festival takes place in Kathmandu. This Chariot with a long wooden tower is constructed at Durbar Marg near the statue of King Mahendra. The Seto Machhendranath chariot is brought to the Machhendranath temple at Jana Bahal near Indra Chowk in Kathmandu. During this Festival, the Chariot is pulled up to Lagankhel in the Lalitpur district. People gather around and worship the deity every place where the Chariot stops. The Chariot is then carried in a procession back to the temple at Jana Bahal in Kathmandu.
Rato Machhendranath Festival:
This Festival was held in Patan in late April-early May. Rato Machhendranath is the God of rain and mercy, known as the God Lokeshwar. During this Festival, a giant chariot is constructed at Patan, and many people pull it from place to place for more than a month to reach its final destination. Legend says that in ancient times Lord Machhendranath once resided in Assam in India. Then a religious king and his two officials with Gorakhnath from Kathmandu went to Assam in India to bring him back to Kathmandu. They used tantric mantras, changed Machhendranath into a bee, and brought him back to Nepal, putting him in a traditional bud vase. Hence Machhendranath is also called a Bungadeo. Later, people built a town in his name called Bungamati and created a unique temple in the name of Lord Machhendranath at Bungmati in Lalitpur. During this Festival, people make two chariots and demonstrate the second for Minnath, son of Machhendranath. A large number of enthusiastic crowds, with Newari musicians, participate in this Festival. All the devotees gathered to celebrate the Festival will be blessed by the Living Goddess-"Kumari." Wherever the Chariot stops and halts the night, devotees come and worship the God Machhendranath, offering flowers, food, fruits, sweets, and rice expecting good luck and rain for its cultivation. People enjoy playing music, performing dances, sacrificing animals, and sharing food. On the Festival's final day, the Bhoto (an ornamented waistcoat) of Machhendranath is displayed to the enormous crowd that gathers at Jawalakhel, Lalitpur. This Festival is also popularly known as Bhoto Jatra.
Mani Rimdu:
Mani Rimdu is a Buddhist festival celebrated at Tengboche Monastery in the Everest region by the Sherpa people. Mani means prayers to God of compassion, Rim means the small red pellets, and Du means blessings. Monks from the Tengboche monastery perform dances wearing different types of masks and pray for the good of all humanity. These masked dances performed by the monks are the most exciting and attractive to tourists. This Festival lasts for three days. 1. First day of the Festival, monks' blessings, 2. The second day of the Festival – monks' masked dances and 3. Bondfire and blessings. Tengboche is called a hidden valley also, which is situated at the alleviation of 3800 meters on the way to the Everest Base Camp route, surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains. You can see Mount Everest also from here and many other beautiful mountains. Every year a large number of people come to know this Festival, both locals and tourists. Here is the Mani Rimdu festival trek to witness it.
