Festivals Of Nepal

Overview

The Festivals of Nepal: Everyone says Nepal is a beautiful garden of flowers and an open museum. We have many cases, cultures, and religions. So, Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. People live in the Himalayas, Hilly, and Terai regions from east to west. They celebrate many different festivals. Festivals in Nepal begin with religion and move with a blessed spirit into a pleasant family. We are providing a Mount Everest tour by helicopter during the festival to enjoy the views of the Mount Everest Himalayan range from Kathmandu.

Nepalese religion has been influenced by and has always been the core of Nepali culture. Some of the major festivals in Nepal are Dashain, Tihar, Maghe Sankranti, Lhosar, Maha Shivaratri, Fagu Poornima (Holi), Buddha Jayanti, and Teej.

Some Popular Festivals In Nepal

Dashain Festival

Dashain Festival is the most important festival for Hindu people in Nepal. It is celebrated in October and November. During this festival, they worship Durga and take Tika as a holy prasad. During the Dashain festival, all the relatives get together and receive blessings from senior citizens. It is also a festival of joyful moments with lots of happiness. During this festival, children have more craze to buy new clothes, visit their relatives’ houses, kite fly, and go to village swings, which are the highlights of Dashain.

Tihar Festivals

Tihar Festival is Nepal’s second main festival, held in November. It is a festival of lights, colorful decorations, fancy sweets, and juicy fruits. Tihar is a festival of five days. The first and second days are the days of bird crow and dog puja, and the third and fourth days are Goddess Laxmi and Govardhan puja. The fifth day is Bhai-tika, where we exchange the tika between brothers and sisters.

So it is also known as Bhai Tika in Nepal. On the day of Bhai Tika, sisters, and brothers get together and accept tika from each other. This day is called Brother’s Day. Brother and sister honor each other on this day, and every sister prays to the god and goddess for a long and prosperous life for her brothers.

Maghe Sankranti Festivals

Maghe Sankranti Festival is the festival in which, in the month of Magh (January and February), the sun enters the southern hemisphere, and the days begin to grow longer and warmer. Lord Vishnu God is thanked for his efforts. Hindus take an early morning bath in the Holy River wherever they are, visit the temple of the god Vishnu, and present flowers, incense, and food to him. They read the Bhagavad Gita, the Song of the Gods.

Lhosar Festivals

Lhosar Festival Nepal is a small country, but there are many different communities of people who are used to living together. They celebrate their festival in their costumes. Similarly, the celebration of Tamang, Magar, Gurung, and other Himalayan communities of Nepal is celebrated in December, February, and March.

There are three types of Lhosar festivals: Tamu Lhosar, Soman Lhosar, and Galpo Lhosar. As part of the festivities, the Buddhist community holds prayer meetings at monasteries and stupas specially decorated for the Lhosar events. People decorated homes with beautiful colors, and relatives and friends exchanged greetings with each other. Lhosar is a festive occasion for people to sing and dance, dressing up for many days. Cultural performances are also held during the Lhosar festival. However, the Tamu Lhosar celebrate Gurung people in the Annapurna region and Sonam Lhosar Tamang people In the Langtang region of Nepal.

Maha Shivaratri FestivalsOf Nepal

The Maha Shivaratri Festival is one of the most important festivals of the Hindu religion and is held in March. It is Shiva’s great birthday. On this day, devotees flocked to Shiva temples early in the morning. Shiva devotees observed a fast throughout the day and night. They performed various rituals on this day, such as doing Rudra Abhishek and milking over the Shiva statue.

Fagu Purnima (Holi) Festivals Of Nepal

Fagu Poornima (Holi) Festival is a festival of colorful moments. It is celebrated in March. It marks the death of the devil, Holika. The reincarnation of Kali Kill the Devil HOLIKA, and people are happy with it. During the festival, the children share a handful of colored powder, which makes it a pleasure. In the Terai region, they celebrate it the next day when the people of Kathmandu Valley celebrate it. During the day, children are more excited to play with their family, friends, and senior citizens.

Buddha Jayanti Festivals Of Nepal

Buddha Jayanti Festival is a special occasion for both Hindus and Buddhists. They celebrate the date of the Birth of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. His birthplace is in Lumbini, Kapilvasthu district of Nepal, in the Terai region of Nepal. All the Buddhists and pilgrims from abroad honor the Buddha who was born on this day, most notably at the great stupas. Activity at the main Buddhist stupas is shrines beginning at Swayambhunath, Lumbini, Namobuddha, and Boudhanath, famous sites to worship during Buddha Jayanti in Nepal.

Teej Festival

Teej Festival is the Hindu festival of Nepalese womanhood. It is held in August/September. Dancing, singing folk songs, and every woman wearing a red color, which dominates the day of the TEEJ festival in Nepal. The day recalls the heavenly occasion when Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas, won the hand of Lord Shiva after extended meditation and fasting.

On the first day of Teej, her mother sends her gifts, food, and sarees to their daughter’s house, and groups of women gather to feast. Similarly, Every woman worships Shiva (goad) to make a happy and productive long life for her husband.

Similarly, these are Nepal’s common festivals celebrated in Nepalese society. Nepalese people share their beautiful moments with their family members and relatives during the festival with lots of fun and happiness. However, some Buddhist People of Nepal celebrate the TIJI festival in the Upper Mustang of the Annapurna conservation area. The Tiji festival is trendy during the Spring season. People can travel to the upper Mustang by jeep during a Tiji festival.

Mani Rimdu Festivals In Sagarmatha

Sherpa people’s most significant festival in the Everest region is the Mani Rimdu festival, which falls for nine days. The etymological meaning of Mani is a chanting part of Chenrezig, and Rimdu signifies the red medication, which is blessed. The festival is celebrated during the 10th lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, which is held from October to November in English date. October and November are the best trekking season in the Everest region, so thousands of trekkers from different countries visit this place. People celebrate and meditate during the Mani Rimdu festival.

Similarly, The Mani Rimdu festival is celebrated in the Tengboche Monastery of the Everest region, which is the main trail of the Everest Base Camp Trekking or the final destination of the Everest Panorama Trekking. The Buddhist monks and the Sherpa people made a sand mandala diagram, which was brought from a unique hill.

After the Mandala is colored in four days, another ten days are spent on special celebrations. People dance and enjoy the celebration, and the monks perform some shows to avoid the evil forces of the world. The festival ends with a special blessing ceremony by the Tengboche Rinpoche, and monks perform masked dances. The festival’s ending demonstrates the defeat of evil forces, and peace and prosperity prevail. Similarly, there are no small Festivals in Nepal. These are the main Festivals of Nepal.

The Mani Rimdu festival has increased trekking and mountaineering in the Everest region—even Gokyo Valley trekkers like to visit this monastery. Mani Rimdu festival trekking trips are also organized on specific dates. What a combination of the Sherpa cultural affluence with the Mani Rimdu festival and trekking to Everest Base Camp!!!

Chhath

Chhath is a Hindu festival in Nepal that the Tharus, Bhojpuriyas, Maithili, and other Madhesi ethnic groups celebrate. Nowadays, each ethnic community celebrates festivals throughout the country. On the occasion of Chhath, the government provides public Holidays all over Nepal. It is a Vedic festival dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya. The main objective of celebrating the Chhath festival is to thank the sun for giving life on earth to humans and other creatures and to bid particular wishes of devotes to be granted.

The four-day Chhath festival is a time of profound spiritual connection and community bonding. It involves a series of rituals, including holy baths, fasting, standing in water, and offering arghya (prayers and fruits) to the rising and setting sun. These practices are religious observances and a way for the community to unite, strengthen their bonds, and share in the spiritual experience. 

Krishna Janmashtami

Krishna Janmashtami is a festival in which the Hindu communities celebrate the birthday of one of the most beloved deities in Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna, with immense devotion and enthusiasm. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Nepalese people from the Hindu religion celebrate the festival all over Nepal on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the dark fortnight in Bhadrapada. 

Devotees celebrate the festival by fasting, symbolizing their dedication and devotion to Lord Krishna, and abstaining from food until midnight. They pray and sing devotional songs daily to express love and reverence for Lord Krishna. The government of Nepal provides national holidays throughout the country on this festival. It will be the best time to explore Patan Durbar Square.

Indra Jatra 

Indrajatra is one of the most enthusiastic and essential festivals celebrated in Kathmandu. The festival honors the ancient Hindu god of rain, Indra, and marks the end of the monsoon season in Nepal. The festival of Indra Jatra holds deep historical and cultural significance among the Newar community in the Kathmandu Valley.  Masked dances, processions, and the display of the living goddess Kumari are the festival’s highlights. 

Bisket Jatra

Bisket Jatra is a traditional festival celebrated enthusiastically in Bhaktapur during the Nepalese New Year. It lasts several days and falls in mid-April. The grand chariot processions are the highlight of the Bisket Jatra. Enthusiastic crowds take Bhairab and Bhadrakali through the narrow streets of Bhaktapur. Another unique event at this festival is the tongue-piercing ceremony. Likewise, Yosin Pole Erection, Vermilion Powder Festival, and other cultural performances are critical festival practices. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the principal place where the festival takes place on New Year’s Day; people also celebrate this festival in the Dhulikhel, Khadpu, Sanga, and Tokha areas. 

Gai Jatra 

The Newar communities of Kathmandu Valley celebrate the Gai Jatra ( Cow festival) during the month of Bhadra (August-September), according to the Lunar Nepal Era calendar. Likewise, the inhabitants of Jumla from all ethnic groups celebrate this festival. Gai Jatra commemorates the death of any person and a belief that the festival will guide the departed soul to heaven. There is a belief that King Pratap Malla started the festival in the 17th century. The king started the festival to console the queen, who was sorrowing her son’s death. Thus, the festival aims to help families who have lost loved ones. 

Nag Panchami  

Nag Panchami is one of the major Hindu festivals in Nepal. It is dedicated to the worship of snakes, especially the god of snakes, Nag. The festival falls on the lunar month of Shrawan (July/August) to celebrate Naga’s victory during the war with Garur. During this festival, Nepali people clean their homes and place images of snakes at the entrance, believing that this protects their homes from snake bites and other misfortunes.

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