INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
Major Festivals of Nepal 2017-18
AUGUST
15
2017
SEPTEMBER
16
2017
OCTOBER
19
2017
OCTOBER
21
2017
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TIHAR
Tihar is Nepal’s second most important
festival, after Dashain. On each of the
three days a different deity is worshipped:
on the first day the crow, the messenger
of Yama (the bringer of death); on the
second, dogs, which are believed to be
Yama’s custodian; and on the third, the
goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, the
bringer of wealth. Lakshmi is worshipped
by lighting houses with oil lamps, candles
and colourful lights.
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29
2017
KRISHNA JANMASTAMI
Krishna Janmastami marks the birth of
Krishna. Considered the eighth incarnation
of Lord Vishnu, Krishna is the most
important character in the Hindu epic, the
Mahabharat. On this day Hindu devotees
visit Krishna temples. In particular,
thousands of devotees gather at the stone
Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square.
INDRA JATRA
Indra Jatra is the most important festival
of Kathmandu city, associated with
Hindu God Indra, the king of heaven. The
festival lasts for three days, with a chariot
procession of the deities Ganesh, Bhairav
and the Kumari (the living goddess). It
starts in Kumari House at Basantapur
Durbar Square in Kathmandu, and travels
around the old parts of Kathmandu.
DECEMBER
SEPTEMBER
20
2017
OCTOBER
4
2017
OCTOBER
25
2017
DASHAIN
Dashain is the most important festival
to Nepalis. It is a celebration of good
prevailing over evil. Most families offer
male goats, ducks, chickens, eggs
and coconuts to the goddess Durga.
People return to their home villages
and spend the fifteen-day festival with
their families. Large swings are set up
for children, and from the tenth day,
family members receive Tika (rice,
red vermillion and yoghurt) on their
foreheads from their elders.
CHHATH
Chhath is the most important festival
observed in the Terai region, and falls
on the seventh day after Tihar. Devotees
fast and make offerings to the sun by
gathering at riverbanks. The Terai region
is the best place to observe this festival,
or the Rani Pokhari tank in central
Kathmandu.
LHOSAR
Lhosar is celebrated by Nepali ethnic
groups who trace their history to Tibet,
namely the Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa
people. Lhosar is the first day of the new
year, and each community celebrates
the festival differently. Traditional dress
is worn by young and old, and festivities
held in cities and more remote regions.
MAGHE SANKRANTI
Maghe Sankranti is celebrated by
Hindus, and symbolises a farewell to the
cold winter nights. Devotees eat ghee,
yams and sweets made from molasses,
and clean their houses thoroughly. It
ushers in the warmer spring season..
JANUARY
15
2018
FEBRUARY
JANUARY
22
2018
MARCH
01
2018
BASANTA PANCHAMI
On this day, devotees worship goddess
Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge
and creator of arts, education and music.
Basanta Panchami also marks the end
of winter and beginning of spring.
HOLI
Holi is a very colourful and playful festival. It
is celebrated in the Terai on one day, and in
Kathmandu and the hill regions on the next
day. People smear coloured powders on
their friends, relatives and family members,
and throw coloured water and water
balloons. It’s important not to take any
valuables out with you on this day, unless
they are sealed in a plastic bag!
13
2018
MARCH
17
2018
Maha Shivaratri
‘Shivaratri’ means the ‘night of Lord Shiva’.
Devout Hindus bathe early in the morning
and fast on this day. They visit Shiva
temples. The best place to witness the
festival is at the Pashupatinath temple of
Kathmandu, where thousands of Sadhus
(Hindu holy men) gather and smoke
marijuana and hashish, considered dear
to Lord Shiva. People also drink Bhang, a
drink made by mixing ground nuts, spices,
herbs and extracts of marijuana into milk.
GHODE JATRA
Ghode Jatra is important to the
Kathmandu Valley, and is celebrated to
ward off demon Gurumapa. It is said the
soul of the demon still lives underground
at Tundikhel. To prevent him from rising
again, a horse race is organised on this
day by the Nepal Army.
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